Lovely! Luscious! Incredible! Mangoes

Truly versatile consumed in many ways in wide variety of Indian recipes, mangoes are eternal with an immense fan following or addicts not only in India but across the globe. Like the tiger, the fruit represents the country, an epitome of regional delights packaged with wellness. The wonderful mouth watering taste and subtle aroma creates an ambience of deep satisfaction in your mind. 

A mango desert be it a pudding, lassi or plain slices or an ice cream flavored with the heavenly fruit is a perfect end to a fantastic meal. The kachumber and pickles are much desired as taste enhancers with their tangy and citrusy flavor and often hot character. They are part of everyday meals including breakfast. You can spread jam flavored with mangoes or lick the jam straight from the bottle - the yummy thing. 

Fruit shakes, beverages, milk shakes, candy, cakes and the pastry all have embraced the magical fruit with love. You can shred raw mango add sugar, chilly flakes and some cloves to get Gujerati chunda, an all time accompaniment with flat bread but more popular in the breakfast menu. 

Make a vegetable curry using raw mangoes for lunch and dinner. There are varieties of this fruit to be eaten straight as raw, sprinkle salt and pepper  or chilly flakes and relish. 

Find your own way to include this lusciously rich fruit in meals, snacks and deserts - there is no limit.       

Fajeeta 

This is literarily mango peel soup. After extracting the pulp the peel is brought to a boil, made like a soup by addition of salt and spices and strained. You can add curd as well if you like. This is an oxidant rich thin soup with lots of minerals and vitamins for healthy life. 

Aam Pana 

This is a mango cooler tangy, sour and sweet with hint of spices. Very healthy and good to fight dehydration and Vitamin deficiency. It is most popular as welcome drink all over India.    

Mango Drinks

A number of cold drinks and pure juice are available throughout the year in bottles and cans globally. Those wishing for the taste of mango can purchase them online or walk to the nearest store. 

Mangifera Indica (Hindi = Aam)

Mango is cultivated in orchards and private gardens all over India. A product of wilderness the small over hanging green fruits in the jungle shaped much like the cultivated variety are the originators of this popular forms. 

Most of the wild mangoes grow amidst a cluster of tree species and are overlooked. But a near cousin known as desi or local is widespread popular in rural confines and some gardens. These mangos are consumed locally as raw in chutneys and often as ripe. They are classic example of seasonal addition to Indian culinary practices. And each locality cooks them in their own ways. They also enter the local markets and are sold for consumption.    

Some of the popular verities are: 

• Alphonso (Exported Globally) 
• Chausa
• Dasheri
• Neelam
• Ratnagiri
• Tota Pari
• Langra
• Safeda
• Kesar
• Badami
• Hapus

These are the varieties that have found National fame, and are seasonally exported. But there is no limit to personal preference and uncountable number of varieties are popular regionally in India. Most of the varieties are grown specifically in a region and transported from there as per local or regional demand.