Mangoes: Feed's All You Need Guide

When thinking of the perfect summer fruit, mangoes are likely one of the first that comes to mind. Its sweet flavor makes for the perfect treat when the warm weather swings around and is one many of us look forward to enjoying throughout most of the year. From mango ice cream to mango juice to even spicy mango chutney, this magical fruit will be sure to make your mouth water! Fun fact: did you know that over three and a half pounds of mangoes, on average, are consumed per capita in the United States? That number grows to a crazy amount when looked at on a global scale; over 57 million tons of mangos are grown worldwide! If you’re interested in learning more about one of the world’s most consumed fruit, then look no further than today’s Pop’s All You Need Guide. We’ll be looking into the history of mangoes, their health benefits, some fun facts, and unique ways to incorporate them into your diet!

History of Mangoes

Before diving into the beautiful world of mangoes, let’s take a look at its history and what allowed it to grow so beloved around the globe. Mangoes were discovered over 4000 years ago in India and were considered sacred fruit thought to bring prosperity and happiness to the consumer - it is believed that Buddha meditated under a mango tree! As trade began to spread throughout Asia, so did the mango; soon, this sweet fruit traveled to the Middle East, East Africa, and South America around 300-400 A.D., where it began to be cultivated and grown for populations in those areas to enjoy. 

How then did mangos spread to North and South America? Well, it was in Portugal that a formal mango trade was established, where Spanish explorers traveling to the Americas brought mangoes with them. Mangoes only grown in warm and tropical climates, so parts of North and South America became the perfect place to continue growing mangoes. Today, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and Haiti provide the supply of mangoes that is consumed in the United States, allowing for a year-round supply of fresh mangoes thanks to both continents falling on either side of the equator. 

Mango Fun Facts

• Mangoes are the national fruit of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines!
• Mangoes are in the cashew family and are a close cousin to pistachios - they are also part of the stone fruit family as well! 
• Mango trees actually help to support the environment; mango trees suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere (known as carbon sequestration) and use it to help form the trunk, branches, leaves, and fruit of the mango tree! In the process, mango trees release oxygen, helping clear the air for us - how neat! 
• You can find six different mango types in the grocery store - each has a distinct flavor while still being a part of the mango family that will transform the dish you are using it for!

Wait, There are Different Types of Mangoes?

You heard us right! There are six different types of mangoes you will likely see at grocery stores near you, although hundreds of other varieties exist worldwide! These varieties do depend on both where the fruit is being grown as well as the tree that the fruit is coming from; for instance, Alphonse and Kesar are two species that are grown in India, and both have different outer colors to their skins as well as different fruit flavor and texture profiles. Here are the types of fruits you can likely find at your local grocery store:

Honey Mangoes

‍Honey mangoes are typically ripe and available from March to July, although you might be able to find them throughout the whole year, depending on where you may be located. This fruit has a sweet and tangy flavor and typically has a smaller seed, so you get a lot more fruit in this variety. Hailing originally from Mexico, honey mangoes are grown (for United States consumption) in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Brazil.  Additionally, you can tell this fruit apart from its counterparts thanks to its bright yellow color and small, oblong shape. While you can use mangoes interchangeably in any recipe or dish, these make for the perfect options for Thai desserts like mango sticky rice or delicious pickles and preserves! 

Francis Mangoes

‍Francis mangoes, unlike Honey mangoes, are ripe and in peak availability from April to November, although you may find them in any of the other months of the year as well! These mangoes are typically grown on small farms throughout Haiti and are characterized by their bright yellow skin with green overtones and sweet and fruity flavor. These mangoes are also grown in Ecuador and make for the perfect treat to eat alone or transform into a smoothie, salad, or even into preserves!

Haden Mangoes

‍Haden mangoes, a mango variety that helped to inspire the creation of a mango industry in South Florida (one of two places where mangoes can be cultivated in the United States), is a tangy yet sweet fruit with a bit of a bitter aftertaste. This fruit is characterized by its high peach notes and firm flesh, bright red and green coloring with small white dots on the skin. These fruits are grown throughout Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru and are available at their peak season, typically from March to June, but you may still be able to find these mangoes throughout the year.

Keitt Mangoes

‍Keitt mangoes, similar to Honey mangoes, are a sweet and fruity variety that is popular throughout Asia, enjoyed in its mature-green stage or as pickles! These mangoes are typically available from January through April and from August to September, although you may be able to find them year-round, depending on where you’re located. Keitt mangoes are grown in Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, and the United States and are characterized by their dark to medium green coloring with a firm, juicy flesh with minimal fibers, making them easy to enjoy! 

Kent Mangoes

Kent mangoes are the perfect juicing and drying mango! This mango variety is available in limited months during the year (from December to February) and is characterized by its juicy, tender flesh with limited fibers and its dark green color. Kent mangoes are now grown primarily in Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador but were originally a product of Florida during the 1940s!

Tommy Atkins Mangoes

The final variety on our list, the Tommy Atkins mango, is a variety from Florida that’s available in peak season around the late spring and summer. Known for its long shelf-life, the Tommy Atkins mango became a popular replacement for the Haden mangoes (which would often die from disease) in the Americas at a commercial level and make for the perfect treat to enjoy baking, as marinades, grilled, or even just cut and eaten alone! These mangoes are grown today in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and even Hawaii, characterized by their smooth dark red blushed skin and mildly sweet taste.

‍How Healthy are Mangoes?

If you’re looking for a new and delicious fruit to enjoy in your diet, you might wonder if mangoes may be the one for you. Well, you’re in luck; mangoes are considered a gem within the fruit world. The American Heart Association notes that mangoes are packed with many vitamins and minerals that support our heart, skin, eyes, digestive, and immune system health and are a low-fat option for those trying to implement a healthier diet into their lifestyle. For just one cup of sliced mango, you will receive three grams of fiber, 25% of your daily value of vitamin A, 76% of your daily value of Vitamin C, and 257mg of potassium. 

Vitamin A, an essential vitamin your body needs, will help to support your skin and eyes, as well as the health of your bones and your reproductive and immune system. Healthline notes that consuming Vitamin C helps strengthen your bones, muscles, and tendons and improves plant iron absorption in the body! Mangoes are also noted to help with weight control, thanks to the phytochemicals they contain that may help to suppress fat cells and fat-related genes. The micronutrients mangoes contain have also been seen to fight cancer and help to improve digestion within the body!