Mango
Mango is often known as the “apple of the tropics”. It is one of the most popular tropical fruits in the world (together with pineapple, banana, papaya and avocado). Mango fruits are usually eaten ripe, when they are soft and sweet. But some people prefer them unripe, when they are harder with a more sour taste. Mango is also used to produce juice, jam or jelly. Unripe fruits can be used to prepare pickles or chutney.
Mango originates from southern Asia, probably the area including Burma and eastern India. It is now found in all tropical regions of the world. There are now many different varieties (cultivars) of mango. Some varieties are eaten ripe when they are juicy and sweet, while others are preferred when they are still hard and green with a sour taste. Mango varieties also differ in shape, size and color.
Names
Scientific
Mangifera indica
English
Common mango
Mango
Dutch
Manga
Mango
Spanish
Mango
French
Fruit du manguier
Mangue
Manguier
German
Mango
Mangobaum
Mangofrucht
Italian
Mango
Taxonomy
Genus
Mangifera
Family
Anacardiaceae
Order
Sapindales
Basic information and facts
Origin:
The origin of mango is Southern Asia, Burma and Eastern India.
Distribution:
Mangoes are found in all tropical regions of the world.
Top producers:
Countries with high production of mango include India, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, Palistan and Brazil.
Evergreen or deciduous:
Evergreen
Flowers:
Yellowish or creamy color
Leaves:
Dark green above and pale below. Flushes of young leaves
are usually reddish or yellowish.
Climate and weather:
Lowland tropical and subtropical areas. Requires a frost-free
climate. Must have warm dry weather to set fruit.
Pollination:
Pollination by flies, hoverflies, bees. High humidity and
rain will result in poor pollination. Mango trees are monoecious
and self-fertile.
Height:
Mango trees are 10-15 meter tall (but sometimes higher)
Crown size:
4-7 meter (or even bigger)
Blooming period:
December-January (Thailand)
Type of soil:
Any well-drained soil.
Preferred pH:
5.5 – 7.5
Moisture:
Moderate. Avoid wet soils.
Light:
Full-day sunlight
Growth rate:
Moderate
Spacing (close range)
4 meter
Spacing (wide range)
8 meter
Canopy:
Often broad and rounded. Good as a shade tree.
Propagation:
Mangoes are usually propagated by grafting of selected cultivars on seedling rootstocks.
Insect pests:
Common mango pests include scales, mealybugs, mites, psyllids, fruit flies.
Diseases:
Mango diseases include powdery mildew on flowers, bacterial spot on leaves and
fruits, and anthracnose.
Fruit development:
The development of mango fruits from flowering to maturity takes 100-150 days.
Harvesting:
Pick mangos when fully ripe off the tree.
Uses:
Eat as a dessert fruit. Also used to produce juice, jam
or jelly. Unripe fruits can be used to prepare pickles or chutney.
Proverbs and Quotes
- An ant guarding a mango.
- Crime leaves a trail like a water beetle; like a snail, it leaves its silver track; like a horse-mango, it leaves its smell.
- If you don’t eat mangos that fall on the ground, be sure to be strong enough to pick ones on the tree.
- Mango among fruits, pork among meats, tea among leaves.
- You don’t throw rocks at a green mango.
- I would finance all the mangos in the world
- Lie down in tall grass. Sink in and forget where you are. Then forget your name. Gather gifts from the natural world and let the stones you collect in your pockets start to pull your pants down. Write a love letter to your best friend on a big leaf. Find a glorious spot. Forget about your personal finance and your personal life. Take a big bit of the Mango and just sit there and breathe. (Sark, in: Eat Mangos Naked)
Did you know that?
- “Big Mango” is the nickname for Bangkok (Thailand) just like “Big Apple” is the nickname for New York City
- Mango is the national fruit in three countries: India, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
Recipes
Mangoes with cream
Ingredients:
Ripe mango (not overripe), whipped cream (not too sweet)
Instructions:
Peel the mango and cut in small cubes or slices. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. Serve with the whipped cream.
Mango sauce
Ingredients:
2 ripe mangoes (not overripe), 4 tablespoons fine sugar (or less), 2 tablespoons rum, Lime or lemon juice
Instructions:
Peel the the mango and remove all the mango flesh off the seed. Put the mango flesh in a blender together with the sugar and the rum and blend until you have a smooth sauce. To adjust the taste you can add some lime or lemon juice. Use this sauce in combination with tropical fruit salads. Pour the sauce over cubed and chilled pieces of fruit, or use it as a dip for pieces of fruit (pineapple, banana, papaya, etc.)
Spicy Mango Salad
Ingredients
1) Green sour mango 1-2 fruits
2) Roasted peanut or cashew nut
3) Dried shrimp
4) Thin sliced red onion
5) Dried chili
6) Chopped Red chilies
7) Chopped coriander
8) Palm sugar
9) Fish sauce
Instructions:
Peel mango and rinse with the clean water. Cut the mango to get long thin pieces. Mix palm sugar with fish sauce and a little bit of dried chili, adjust taste as you like. Put mango in a bowl then add peanut or cashew nut, dried shrimp, red onion and red chilies. Mix them well then add the sauce, mix them well and adjust the taste again. Serve in a plate, topping it with the cashew nut and coriander.
Crop categories
Fruits
Food crops
Tropical crops
Pictures
Mango
Mango
Flowering mango tree
Mango
Yellow mangoes