The Mango

Botanically known as Mangifera Indica Linn, the mango is a fruit tree that is native to tropical India and Burma. The ‘king of fruits’, has been around for more than 6000 years. It was also known as the ‘fruit of the kings’, as it was a favorite among the kings and princes of ancient India. Most of the royal families of ancient India had large mango orchards, and used to take immense pride in showing them off.

The ancient Sanskrit literature of the Indian subcontinent bears references to the quality of the fruit.

The mango was brought to the Middle East by the Persian traders. It was brought to the New World by the Portuguese. Americans were introduced to its cultivation very late in the day, as late as the 1830s.

The mango plant

The original and native varieties of the mango tree can grow up to a height of between 30 to 40 feet and 100 to 120 feet. They have leaves that are elongated and aromatic, and are 4 to 12 inches long and 1 to 3 inches wide. They grow small and green,aromatic flowers. The unripened fruit is green in color as well, and may be of various shapes and sizes, depending upon the varieties.

Mango trees are grown using a technique called grafting. Grafting is a technique of growing a tree/plant on another tree/plant.

Mango as food

India has perhaps the largest variety of mango trees growing across its different regions. There are more than 600 varieties of mango in India, offering a rich fair of flavors, each one different from the other. Across the entire world, there are over a 1000 varieties of mango.

Mangos for Food >>