Okay, so let’s start with a game today! We give you a word and you say *the fruit name* that comes to your mind, and we try to guess that. You need to be really quick. Alright!
Here we go
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Orange!
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We know you’re thinking of the fruit orange!
Score: 1 - ❤️
Next, Chatpati!
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Imli, right?
Score: 2 - ❤️
Okay, last one. Yellow!
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We know “Mango” is on your mind! It’s on our minds too.
Score: 3 - ❤️
Guys, summer is coming! And summers have always meant the MANGOOOOO SEASON! Coming back from school, and gorging on those cool, yellow, juicy, sweet sunshine of happiness!!!!! Or that spicy-tangy flavour of kacchi kairi and red chilly powder!!! Oh, the nostalgia, that happiness, that bliss of devouring the king of fruits!!! We legit can’t contain our excitement (evident from our overuse of ‘!!!’) and are drooooooling!
While ‘Alphonso/Hapus mangoes’ reign the mango kingdom, did you know there are about 1,500 varieties of mangoes grown in India alone, including 1,000 commercial varieties? Here’s presenting 9 wonder varieties of ‘the favourite fruit’:
1. Dasheri Mango
A popular choice in North India, Dasheri was introduced by the Nawabs of Lucknow about 2000 years ago. Mangoes have a history of their own too!
- How to identify: It is sweet, long, and bright yellow.
- Available from: April to June.
2. Langra Mango
Favoured by many in the north and east India, the Banarasi Langra is said to be first cultivated by a man who was lame - thus, the name! And then they say: “what’s in a name?”...
- How to identify: It is tangy, oval, and green (even when ripe).
- Available from: July to August.
3. Kesar Mango
The most popular choice for the delicious aamras, Kesar is a staple of Gujarat, found in the Girnar mountains. It is one of the expensive varieties (like kesar - the spice).
- How to identify: It has a bright orange colour and a peculiar sweet smell.
- Available from: April to July.
4. Pairi Mango
Popular in the western part of India, Pairi is often “paired” with Alphonso in the aamras to balance its sweetness. Or you can slurp the juicy variety as is too.
- How to identify: It is small, round, and green with a reddish tinge.
- Available from: April to June
5. Chaunsa Mango
This one’s an oldie too! Sher Shah Suri introduced this variety in the 16th century during his reign and named it after a district in Bihar. How cool and convenient!
- How to identify: It is pulpy, round, and bright yellow.
- Available from: June to August
6. Totapuri Mango
A less-sweeter variety, it is shaped uniquely like a parrot’s beak. And it is known by mannnnny names: Gilli, Kallamai, Sandersa, Bangalore, Mukku, the list goes on… And this variety has kids too, who live in the US. It was exported to Florida in 1901 and is the parent of Anderson and Brooks variety of mango.
- How to identify: Just look for a parrot’s beak kind of mango.
- Available from: April to June
7. Safeda Mango (alias Banganapalli)
It is cultivated in the Banaganapalle of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. The flesh is light yellow inching towards white, hence the name. You can identify the mango variety from their names itself!
- How to identify: It is round, plump, and light yellow.
- Available from: April to June
8. Sindhri Mango
Introducing the ‘Queen of Mangoes’! Yes, there is a queen too, though we don’t know when the marriage happened! It is cultivated in Sindh region (now in Pakistan) - hence, the name!.
- How to identify: It is sweet, palm-sized, and medium yellow.
- Available from: May to August
9. Alphonso Mango
And... how can our list ever be complete without including the ‘King of Mangoes’. Everyone loves it, and it loves everyone. Period.
- How to identify: It is super-sweet, round, and golden yellow. And it can fill the room with its aroma!
- Available from: May to June
WAIT!!! We are not finished yet. We know it’s February and we don’t have fresh mangoes yet. And we have got you drooling.......
But, guess what? You don’t have to wait for the summers to relish the Mango delight. We have got you covered… Here’s presenting your very own All-season AAM -
DESi POPZ Kaccha Aam, kacchi Aam with spicy memories!
DESi POPZ Real Aam, real aam with tangy memories!
--Written by Simran Doshi
