Every year in spring, the sweet chirping of the koel (cuckoo) signals the sign of the upcoming mango season.
It is a famous myth in my hometown that the koel perch on mango trees during the spring season, eagerly waiting for the mangoes to ripe.
Sometimes in waiting, they become impatient and peck on the mangoes when they are unripe, hence losing their voice eating the sour, tangy, unripe mangoes.
This was the story I was told by my grandmother and I grew up sincerely believing it. I remember my dad getting boxes upon boxes of mangoes. And he would distribute it to all our relatives, neighbours, and friends.
During summers, when the mango season is in full bloom, you will see mango being consumed in every household, whether rich or poor, at every mealtime.
This fruit is so abundantly grown in Pakistan that people not only eat it as a whole but incorporate it into a variety of dishes.
Actually, people in Pakistan do not even wait for the mangoes to ripen up, as they are also used and enjoyed in their raw form, Kari. That’s a whole different story for another time.
Thankfully, since Pakistan exports mangoes, we easily get Pakistani mangoes here in Bradford, but nothing beats the feel and taste of that fresh mango that you find back in your home country.
Types Of Pakistani Mangoes
Every mango lover in Pakistan will be familiar with the different varieties and names of mangoes.
The season starts with Dussehri, and by the end of May till late June, you get Sindhri, along with Anwar Ratool, followed by Langra and Chaunsa in July and August.
Every individual has his or her preferences when it comes to mangoes. The endless debates on the dining table about which mango is best, every individual has their version.
Sindhri and Anwar Ratol are my favourite types and thankfully, they are available at the local desi store here in Bradford.
Luckily, here I got to taste India’s famous mango Alphonso too, which is a very sweet-tasting mango, but there’s no comparison when it comes to Pakistani Mangoes.
The Best Mangoes: Pakistani Or Indian?
India is one of the largest producers of mangoes in the world followed by Pakistan, Mexico, Brazil, and so on.
But the mangoes that are massively popular throughout the world are Indian and Pakistani mangoes. Despite the popularity of mangoes, there has been no conclusion as to whether Kesar mangoes are better or Sindhri mangoes.
This is an unanswered question in places where you get both the mangoes. I think it personally depends on the taste that is developed since childhood.
Secondly, your opinion is also biassed towards your country of origin. So, a neutral individual can answer this question better.
Therefore, if you ask an Indian about their favourite mango, the person will probably root for Kesar mango. Similarly a Brazilian will root for Brazilian Mangoes.
But a true mango lover will judge the mangoes based on their colour, texture, aroma, shape, and taste regardless of the country of origin of the mango.
And I am pretty sure they will pick Pakistani mango among the different varieties. (considering my nationalistic sensibilities for Pakistani mango)
Use Of Mangoes In Different Recipes
Back home, mango season means you will find mangoes or mango-related dishes at all mealtimes.
Mango marmalade for breakfast, followed by mango pickles with your lunch, mango lassi as a refreshing drink, and mango ice cream after dinner.
If you have not had such experiences, here are some recipes you can try and get a similar experience wherever you are.
Mango Lassi
Mango lassi is nothing but a mango smoothie with a twist. While there is no rocket science involved in making it, you need to strike the right balance between the sweetness of mangoes and the sour flavour of yoghurt. But for the best flavour, use Pakistani mangoes. *wink wink*
Ingredients
- Mangoes - 1 ½ cup
- Yoghurt - ¾ cup
- Milk - ½ cup
- Fresh cream - ¼ cup
- Sugar - 2 tbsp (use according to your preference.
- Saffron - a pinch
- Cardamom powder - ¼ tsp
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients into a blender, and make sure everything is chilled beforehand.
- In the blender, add some ice cubes/water and blend until no mango fibres are left and it becomes smooth.
- You can add more water or milk if it's too thick. The mixture should be pouring and in a drinking consistency.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with chopped pistachios or almonds and enjoy it chilled on a hot summer day.
Mango Malai Ice Cream
Now this is one recipe that is an instant hit with guests. All you need are 5 basic ingredients.
Ingredients
- Milk - 1 cup
- Fresh cream - 1 cup
- Milk powder - 1 cup
- Sugar - ½ cup or according to taste (depends upon the sweetness of mangoes)
- Mango - 1 cup (cut into small cubes)
Instructions
- In a blender, add milk, fresh cream, sugar, and milk powder, and blend to a fine paste.
- Take a small portion of this cream base and freeze it.
- Add the ¾ cup mangoes to the remaining cream base and blend everything.
- Set this mango puree in a small dish, cover it with a cling film, and keep it in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
- When it is semi-set, add the remaining mango cubes and gently fold it with a spatula.
- Now scatter some scoops of the frozen cream base. The cream should not be completely mixed with the mango
- Cover and freeze for 6-7 hours or overnight.
- Scoop out the ice cream into serving bowls and enjoy.
Health Benefits of Mangoes
Mango is tainted for being too sweet, and people do not know its various health benefits. The popular belief is that the level of sugar in mangoes leads to obesity, which is entirely wrong.
On the contrary, mangoes assist in weight loss. Mangoes are rich in fibre, which gives you a sense of fullness that eventually prevents overeating and you can control your calorie intake.
Moreover, mangoes contain natural sugar which is essential for our body.
Apart from this, the nutrients present in mangoes may boost eye, skin, and hair health. At the same time, it may prevent heart disease and cancer.
Nutritional Fact Profile of Mangoes
Mangoes are filled with nutrition; let's discuss the nutritional facts present in 1 cup (165 grams ) of fresh mangoes:
- Calories - 99
- Sugar - 22.5
- Fibre - 2.6 grams
- Carbs - 24.7 grams
- Fat - 0.6 grams
- Protein - 1.4 grams
- Vitamin C - 60.1mg 67% of the Daily Value
- Folate - 71 micrograms (18% of the DV )
- Vitamin A, RAE - 89.1 mcg (10% of the DV)
- Vitamin B6 - 12% of the DV
- Potassium - 277 mg (6% of the DV)
- Beta carotene - 1060 mcg
- Lutein and Zeaxanthin - 38 mcg
Aids In Digestion
The fibre content, along with other compounds, plays an active role in treating chronic constipation if consumed regularly for 4 weeks.
May Prevent Cancer
A bioactive compound found in mangoes - mangiferin can protect against several types of cancers, such as colon, breast, lung, and neuronal cancers.
Secondly, the chemical beta carotene found in mangoes may prevent skin cancer as it converts to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A also plays the role of immunity booster in the body.
May Support Heart Health
The compound mangiferin present in the mangoes offers heart-protective benefits by reducing inflammation and may assist in cholesterol balance.
May Support Eye Health
The orange/yellow colour of the mango pulp suggests that it is rich in carotenoids ( lutein and zeaxanthin) - a chemical that supports eye health.
It protects the retina from the sunlight and blue light emitted from digital devices. Carotenoids are also useful in fighting the signs of macular degeneration - an age-related eye disease.
Promotes Healthy Skin And Hair
Mangoes contain a reasonable quantity of vitamins A and C and both these vitamins play an active role in keeping our skin and hair healthy.
Vitamin C aids in the formation of collagen, a chemical that keeps our skin fresh. Also, vitamin C acts as an antioxidant that protects our skin from environmental damage and reduces the growth of fine lines and wrinkles.
Similarly, Vitamin A helps in the production of sebum, the oily substance that keeps our skin and scalp moisturised.
Wrap Up
Mango is one fruit that can not only be enjoyed in its raw form but can be incorporated into various cuisines and recipes, be it Thai, Mexican, Continental, etc. But being a desi at heart I truly enjoy mango in our desi recipes.
And although we easily get Pakistani mangoes here at our desi stores, there’s no comparison between the fresh mangoes we used to eat in our childhood to the imported mangoes we get here.
Mango is generally considered a safe fruit when consumed in a balanced proportion. However, it contains significant levels of natural sugar. You might want to consult your doctor if you are diabetic.
