Mango madness refers to the frenzy and excitement around mango season. Mangoes are a beloved tropical fruit that grow in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. When mango season arrives each year, mango lovers eagerly await the aromatic, sweet, and juicy mangoes that capture the essence of summer.
Mango madness often coincides with the start of summer. In places like South Asia, the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Southern United States, mango season kicks off in late spring or early summer. As temperatures climb and summer vacation nears, mangoes appear at fruit stands, grocery stores, and backyard trees.
When does mango madness happen?
The timing of mango madness varies by region, corresponding with local mango harvests. Here are some examples of when mango mania strikes:
- India: May to July
- Pakistan: May to September
- Mexico: May to September
- Philippines: April to June
- Thailand: March to June
- Caribbean: June to August
- Brazil: September to February
- Australia: October to March
- United States (Florida): May to September
During these mango seasons, fresh local mangoes flood the markets and menus at an affordable bounty. Exotic imported mangoes also increase in availability to satisfy mango fanatics.
Why does mango madness happen?
Mango madness occurs for several reasons:
- Limited season: Mangoes are only harvested once per year, increasing demand and excitement.
- Versatile fruit: Mangoes can be eaten fresh, cooked, dried, or processed into products like chutney, lassi, juices, ice cream, and more.
- Tropical taste: Mangoes provide a sweet, tropical escape with their juicy flesh and exotic flavors.
- Cultural significance: Mangoes hold nostalgia and cultural importance in tropical regions, where they appear in cuisine, celebrations, and traditions.
- Summer symbol: Mangoes’ summertime availability represents the carefree days of summer vacation and beach trips.
With their fleeting availability, delicious flavors, and cultural resonance, it’s easy to see why mangoes drive people mad with joy when mango season arrives.
How is mango madness celebrated?
The mango madness hype manifests in numerous ways:
- Lines form at fruit stands for fresh, ripe mangoes.
- Mango dishes populate restaurant menus and street food stalls.
- Mango lassis, ice creams, cakes, pies, and other desserts abound.
- Mango festivals and fairs celebrate the fruit.
- Mango chutneys, achars, amchurs, and other preserved mango products see peak popularity.
- Grocery stores prominently display large stacks of mangoes.
- Mango cocktails and beer appear on bar menus.
- Beauty and spa treatments feature mango notes and ingredients.
- Mango costumes and merchandise arise.
- Social media overflows with mango love through hashtags like #mangoseason.
Wherever mangoes grow, locals and tourists join in the mango mania festivities. Mangoes’ sweetness adds joy and flavor to the summertime celebration of this beloved fruit.
What types of mangoes cause mango madness?
Hundreds of mango cultivars exist, but a few all-stars tend to steal the show each mango season:
Alphonso
This Indian variety is celebrated as the “King of Mangoes” for its rich, creamy, fiberless flesh and sweet, perfumed aroma. It’s one of the most prized mangoes internationally.
Ataulfo
Also called honey or champagne mango, this small, yellow Mexican variety has a smooth texture and sweet, floral flavor. It hits peak availability from May-July.
Francis
This florid, juicy Filipino variety stars in many mango desserts and ice creams. It’s in season from March-June.
Keitt
An Indian-origin mango grown in Florida, Keitt has a late season from July-October known for huge, unblemished fruits weighing up to 5 pounds.
Kent
Sometimes called the “boxing mango” for its rectangular shape, this blush-green Indian cultivar bears incredibly juicy, creamy flesh. It’s beloved in the U.S. for its late summer season.
Tommy Atkins
This tropical red-orange mango hybrid often appears as the starring mango ingredient in U.S. grocery stores. It has firm, stringy flesh with sweet, tropical flavor.
These are just a few of the many mango varieties that spark mango mania worldwide. Their unique flavors, textures, and aromas come together to create mango magic when their seasons collide.
Where can you find mangoes during mango madness?
When mango madness strikes, you can track down mangoes at:
- Fruit stands and fruit markets
- Supermarkets and grocery stores
- Farmer’s markets
- Food festivals and mango fairs
- Backyard mango trees
- Orchards offering pick-your-own mangoes
- Juice bars, ice cream shops, and dessert shops
- Restaurants and food stalls featuring mango dishes
- Produce delivery services like Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market
Seek out these mango hot spots to secure the most delicious, in-season mangoes at the peak of freshness and lowest cost. You can also look for mango product availability expanding in grocery aisles, like mango chutneys, mango salsas, dried mango, mango juices, and mango jams.
How can you enjoy mangoes during mango madness?
Mangoes offer versatility, suiting both savory and sweet recipes. Here are some favorite ways to indulge in mango madness:
Eat Mangoes Fresh
Enjoy mango slices, spears, or chunks on their own for a simple, mess-free treat. Add a squeeze of lime for extra zing.
Blend into Smoothies
Blend ripe mango chunks into smoothies with yogurt or milk for a tropical flavor boost. Other fruits, greens, and protein powders also pair well in mango smoothies.
Toss into Salsas
Diced mango makes a sweet, juicy addition to tomato or peach salsas paired with chips, fish, pork, chicken, or other entrees. Add some lime and chili pepper for a kick.
Mix into Desserts
Mangoes excel in both fruit salads and baked desserts. Add them to fruit salads or combine with other tropical fruits for an ambrosia salad. Or bake into pies, cakes, tarts, crisps, puddings, or incorporate into ice cream.
Blend into Drinks
Make mango margaritas, daiquiris, mojitos, or bellinis by muddling or blending fresh mango into cocktails. Mangoes also pair deliciously with rum, tequila, vodka, gin, and sparkling wine.
Juice for Refreshment
Quench your thirst with a cold glass of mango juice or mango lassi. Mango juice also shines in agua fresca, lemonade, or punches.
However you choose to enjoy them, mangoes provide the perfect dose of summer sweetness and flavor.
Nutrition facts during mango madness
Mangoes provide a healthy dose of nutrients and antioxidants, including:
| Nutrient | Per 1 cup diced mango |
|---|---|
| Calories | 107 |
| Fat | 0.5 g |
| Sodium | 2 mg |
| Potassium | 257 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 24 g |
| Vitamin A | 1127 IU |
| Vitamin C | 36 mg |
This nutrition profile shows why mangoes make a healthy addition to your diet. They provide key vitamins and minerals like vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber. The natural sugars contribute sweetness with less guilt than added sugars.
The history behind mango madness
The delight in mangoes traces back centuries and across continents. Some key points in mango history:
- Mangoes originated in Southeast Asia and Northeast India. Early cultivation dates back over 4,000 years.
- Mangoes were cultivated and revered in ancient Indian, Burmese, and Malaysian cultures. Kings and nobles grew mango orchards as status symbols.
- Portuguese explorers introduced mangoes to Africa in the 16th century after discovering them in India.
- Spanish explorers then brought mangoes to the Americas via Mexico and South America in the 17th century.
- The mango made its way to U.S. greenhouses in the 18th century and became a commercial crop in Florida in the early 20th century.
- Today, India remains the largest mango producer worldwide, followed by China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Mexico.
This spread of mangoes from Asia to Africa, Europe, and the Americas allowed mango mania to take hold globally. While the excitement peaks during each area’s respective mango season, the mango’s iconic status transcends seasons and geography.
Why the mango madness hype?
With their smooth, juicy flesh and delectable tropical flavors, it’s easy to see why mangoes spark so much excitement when they come into season. Beyond taste, several factors fuel mango madness:
- Short season: The short mango season increases demand and creates urgency to indulge while they’re ripe and readily available.
- Summer symbolism: Mangoes’ summertime availability associates them with sunny weather, school breaks, and fun.
- Variety: Hundreds of mango varieties mean new ones to try, each with unique flavors, textures, colors, and aromas.
- Cultural significance: Mangoes hold deep cultural meaning in tropical regions, appearing in cuisine, songs, poems, and celebrations.
- Versatility: Mangoes work in savory and sweet dishes, drinks, desserts, snacks, preserves, beauty products, and more.
With this winning mix of great taste, seasonal excitement, cultural resonance, and versatility, it’s no wonder mango madness grips tropical locales when mango season begins.
Where to find the best mangoes
Not all mangoes are created equal when mango madness sets in each season. For the best, most flavorful mangoes, look for:
- Locally grown varieties: Each region boasts proud local mango selections at their seasonal peak.
- Tree-ripened: Mangoes allowed to tree-ripen on branches develop better aroma, sweetness, and flavor.
- Unblemished skin: Mangoes free of bruises, spots, and damage yield the juiciest flesh.
- Firm squeeze: Ripe mangoes should give slightly when gently squeezed but remain mostly firm.
- Rich color: Vibrant red, orange, yellow, or green skin signals peak ripeness.
- Fragrant aroma: Ripe, ready-to-eat mangoes emit a sweet, fruity tropical scent.
Seeking out mangoes meeting these pick standards helps you celebrate mango season to the fullest.
Mango madness around the world
While mango madness occurs wherever mangoes grow well, some regions are especially famous for their mango frenzies. Key places where mango madness hits each season include:
India
As the birthplace of mangoes, India celebrates the fruit extensively. Along with mango chutneys and lassis, Indian mango mania shines through festivals like Mango Mela of UP, Mango Festival of Delhi, and Maharashtra’s Mango Festival.
Mexico
Mexican mango madness revolves around local favorites like Manilla, Ataulfo and Tommy Atkins. Mangoes inspire festivals, desserts like paletas and aguas frescas, and savory dishes featuring mango salsa.
Philippines
From March to June, Filipinos go wild for sweet local varieties like Carabao, Pico, and Senorita. Vendors sell mangoes by the roadside, and mangoes star in halo-halo desserts.
Pakistan
Pakistan produces delicious mangoes like Chaunsa, Anwar Ratol, and Sindhri. Mangoes signify summer through chaat snacks, mango replicas, songs like “Aam Aam Aam,” and mango diplomacy gifts.
United States
In Florida, Texas, California and Hawaii, mango festivals celebrate mangoes’ peak season from May to September. Grocery displays, dessert shops and backyard barbecues all flaunt mangoes.
No matter where you are, catching local mango madness provides a delicious taste of culture, nostalgia, and summer fun.
Conclusion
Mango madness expresses the joy people worldwide feel when beloved mangoes hit peak season each year. Their sweet succulence, fleeting availability, cultural significance, and versatile uses create a frenzy of mango appreciation. Tracking down the best local varieties and recipes provides a decadent immersion into mango mania. Harnessing the magic of mangoes in summer dishes and drinks allows you to join the mango movement wherever you live.