Summers are all about fruits, especially the humid Indian Summers! All one feels like eating in the extreme heat are refreshing fruits. Out of all the fruits, mangoes are the most versatile. From desserts to souffles, smoothies and aamras, lassi and milkshakes, salad and achaar, or they can be eaten as a meal too, just dive right into them and slurp your way around this sweet fruit, be messy, let it drip…just let go and enjoy them! Mangoes are called the King of Fruits ‘coz mangoes rule!
When it comes to mangoes, our country comes on top of the list since we produce a variety of them. The question is when we have a variety of them, how do we know the difference? How do we choose? Read on to become a pro at mango choosing!
Alphonso Or Hapus Is Available From May To June
Image Credit: salebhai.com
The Alphonso had to be mentioned first as it is the most loved. The Alphonso is spherical and is grown in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. It’s the most expensive of all mangoes.
Safeda Is Available From April To June
Image Credit: Multanimangocentre.com
The first types of mangoes to hit the market are the Safeda mangoes which are grown in Andhra Pradesh. The Safeda has less fiber and tastes a bit sour. The skin of Safeda mangoes is bright yellow.
Pairi Is Available From May To June
Image Credit: topsindia.com
Pairi is available in the market almost by the end of April and beginning of May. Pairi is mostly used to make the aamras and has a sweet taste with a hint of sourness and the skin is reddish in colour.
Himsagar Is Only Available In May
Image Credit: Wikimedia.org
Best to be used for milkshakes, as they are not only sweet but fleshy too, but the sad part is this sweet mango lasts only for a month. You can enjoy them for about 4 weeks before they disappear!
Neelam Is Available From May To July
Image Credit: Tradeindia.com
Have you ever got that strong whiff of ripe mangoes during May when you visit the fruit market? Then that’s probably the fragrance of the sweet smelling, tiny mangoes called Neelam. June is the right season to enjoy them as that’s when the sweetest of the lot arrive in the markets.
Totapuri Is Available From June To July
Image Credit: Indiamart.com
Totapuri is mostly used in salads as they are not very sweet and tastes great with a sprinkle of salt. These mangoes have a tip that looks like the beak of a parrot, no wonder then they are called Tota(Parrot in Hindi) puri!
Langra Is Available From Mid July To August
Image Credit: Indiamart.com
Found widely in Bihar and West Bengal, this is one of the most fibrous varieties of mangoes and is full of pulp and juice. It is green in colour even when ripe.
Kesar Is Available From June To July
Image Credit: Indiamart.com
Kesar meaning saffron and like the name suggests, the skin of the Kesar mango is almost the colour of saffron. Though it is small in size, it’s another variety of fragrant mangoes that is grown mostly in Gujarat.
Dussehri Is Available From June To July
Image Credit: Crimenazar.com
This is the variety of mango you can enjoy without slicing. This is the one you enjoy whole, just slice off the tip and enjoying sucking the pulp and juice. It’s the variety of mango you make a mess with but don’t mind messing! It’s grown in Uttar Pradesh.
Chausa Is Available From July To August
Image Credit: Indiamart.com
The Chausa kind of marks the end of the mango season. It has a bright yellow skin, is very sweet and is very popular up North.
While some mangoes are known for their sweetness, some are known for their fragrance, while some for being pulpy. Whatever the variety, mangoes are one of the reasons why we look forward to summer so enjoy them while they last!
Read Also: For The Love Of Mangoes
