The King of Fruits Mango

Mango is native to Pakistan  and Southeast Asia, and people have cultivated it for over 4,000 years. Hundreds of types of mango exist, each with its own characteristic taste, shape, size, and color. This fruit is not only delicious but also boasts an impressive nutritional profile. Today, these colorful, sweet fruits are a mainstay of Indian cuisine and are popular throughout the world. Mangos can weigh anywhere from a few ounces to more than five pounds each, depending on the variety.

Summers are here and so are mangoes. Known as the king of fruits, mango is one of the most popular, nutritionally rich fruits with unique flavour, fragrance and taste, In addition to being sumptuous, pulpy and amazing, mangoes pack a host of health benefits too. They are rich in potassium and magnesium and are a great remedy for high blood pressure. Mangoes are vitamin powerhouses, rich in B-vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Here are some health benefits of mangoes you may not have known.

Types of Mangoes in Pakistan

Worldwide, hundreds of mango cultivars are known. Most commercial cultivars belong to Mangifera indica, while a few commercial varieties grown in Southeast Asia belong to other Mangifera species. Southeast Asia, Australia, the United States and some African countries cultivate locally selected varieties, while most other countries grow cultivars developed in Florida.

While summers are usually all about foods that help you beat the heat and stay cool, mangoes have a special place reserved in the hearts of Pakistanis everywhere, which is why they are also exported all over the world. The heavenly fruit can be peeled and eaten raw once it is ripe, chopped up into desserts and salads, blended to make smoothies and mango lassi, or even pickled before it is ripe to make mango pickles or ‘aam ka achaar’. Shredded mango is also used to create a sour and sweet murabba to be consumed with meals during mango season in Pakistan.

Some of the most popular types of mangoes in Pakistan include:

• Langra
• Chaunsa
• Anwer Ratol
• Sindhri
• Dussehri

Langra

Langra mango Pakistan is one of the most experienced varieties of Mango from South Punjab. Its name in Urdu means “lame” in English. Langra mango signifies a carefree lifestyle, thus the phrase “Life-with-Langra and Life-without-Langra”. Available from May to July, Langra mango is greenish and its size varies from medium to large. Its fat oval shape is iconic, fiber-less flesh, dark yellow and has a sweet aroma. Westerners usually like this fruit because its less sweet and suits their taste palette.

The major factor that distinguishes Langra from all the other types of mangoes is that it maintains its green colour even after it’s ripe, while other mangoes change into a yellow-reddish colour. Langra’s flesh is fibreless, yellowish-brown, and has a strong smell when ripe. The skin is fragile, and this mango is only available as a medium-sized fruit with a small and oval seed. It usually hits the markets mid-July to August and is the ideal variety for canning and preservation, while the flavour can range from extremely sweet to a bitter sourness, depending on the ripeness of the fruit.

Chaunsa

Chaunsa, also known as chausa, is a mango cultivar indigenous to South Asia. It is grown mainly in Pakistan and some parts of India; both countries export significant quantities of the fruit. The main centers of chaunsa cultivation are Rahim Yar Khan and Multan in Pakistani Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh in India.

Chaunsa is also one of the most loved types of mangoes across the world because it is exceptionally sweet and juicy. You can simply soften the flesh from the outside by pushing the skin inwards with your thumbs before removing the mango’s eye that connects it to the stem to drink the delicious juice. It doesn’t get any fresher than this! The deliciously soft mango has a wonderful fragrance, minimum fibre, and a thick stone in the middle with light yellow flesh. Its ripening season is June to August, and it keeps on delighting taste buds in Pakistan and across the world until late September when no other mango varieties are available.

Anwer Ratol

Anwar Ratol (sometimes spelt Anwar Rataul) is a small, yellow variety of mango known for its sweetness and fiberlessness. It is sometimes called the ‘mini powerhouse’. It is cultivated in the Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan, and near the village of Rataul in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is very sweet in taste with less fiber.

Anwar Ratol was first cultivated near Rataul, a village in Uttar Pradesh. Sheikh Mohd Afaq Faridi, a Muslim farmer returned to the village after completing his inter college in 1905, he noticed a young mango tree near one of the farms. He asked a gardener to graft the plant, and in a year’s time, four mango trees sprouted. Years later, Afaq Faridi resigned from his job and devoted his life to this ‘sweet mission’. After his marriage, he set up a mango nursery that he called Shohra-e-afaq in 1928 and got it registered in 1935. He named this mango variety Anwar Rataul, now popularly known simply as the Rataul mango. In 1947, someone took sample plants to Pakistan and planted this mango breed in the Multan region. The variety became famous, and symbol of pride for Pakistan. 

Due to high demand, it hits the markets for a very short duration in two bursts, once at the start of the mango season from May to June when it is thin-skinned but incredibly sweet, and then in July to August, where it has a relatively thicker skin but is less sweet in taste.

Sindhri

The ‘Sindhri’ mango is a mango cultivar grown in Sindhri, a town in Sindh, and other areas of Sindh province in Pakistan. It is a large oval shaped mango which is extremely sweet and aromatic. Mangifera ‘Sindhri’

Sindhri is a leading variety of mango from Sindh with its origins in a town of the same name in Mirpur Khas District. It is a large, oval-shaped mango with a yellowish skin, is low in fibre, and is highly aromatic. For many, Sindhri mango is the epitome of taste and texture in mangoes. While it is generally sweet, Sindhri mangoes might be a bit tangy early in the season. 

It is also one of the varieties that is seen the most commonly in markets in Sindh and the top variety of mangoes that are used commercially for milkshakes and ice creams. This mango also grows larger towards the end of its season between May and August and does not spoil easily, providing it with a fairly long shelf life than some of the other varieties, like Langra, which will start to turn black in a few days if you keep them refrigerated.

Dussehri

Dasheri mangos are favored for their sweet flavor and juicy, smooth flesh and are a prized seasonal summer fruit utilized in raw and cooked preparations. There are several regional names for Dasheri mangoes, including Dusari, Dashehari, Dusehri, and Dussehri.

Dussehri traces its roots back to the gardens of the Nawab of Lucknow in the 18^th century. Mouth-watering and lip-smacking, the mango has the juiciest pulp with an exquisite taste and delightful aroma. Smaller than other mangoes, it is no less delicious with a sweet juice, leaving you wanting more even after having 2 or 3 in one go. The best time to enjoy this mango is at the peak of its flavour during the first two weeks of July.

Health Benefits of Mangoes

Known as the king of fruits, mango is one of the most popular, nutritionally rich fruits with unique flavour, fragrance and taste, In addition to being sumptuous, pulpy and amazing, mangoes pack a host of health benefits too. They are rich in potassium and magnesium and are a great remedy for high blood pressure. Mangoes are vitamin powerhouses, rich in B-vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Here are some health benefits of mangoes you may not have known.

Lower Risk of Cancer

Mangos are rich in beta-carotene, a pigment responsible for the yellow-orange color of the fruit. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant, just one of many found in mangos. The antioxidants in mangos have been shown to fight free radicals, which can cause damage to your cells and potentially lead to cancer.

Heart Health

Mangos are also helpful for supporting your cardiovascular system. They are a great source of magnesium and potassium, both of which are connected to lower blood pressure and a regular pulse. Furthermore, mangos are the source of a compound known as mangiferin, which early studies suggest may be able to reduce inflammation of the heart.

Digestive Health

Mangos can help stabilize your digestive system. They offer both amylase compounds and dietary fiber, which can help you avoid constipation. Amylase compounds can help dissolve other foods in your stomach, breaking down difficult starches. Meanwhile, the fiber in mangos can be more effective for relieving constipation than equivalent fiber supplements.

Nutrition

Mangos are rich in folate, which is used for healthy cell division and DNA duplication. Physicians recommend that people who can become pregnant consume at least 400 mcg of folate daily, because it is critical for avoiding birth defects. Mangoes help unclog pores and add freshness to your face. All you have to do is place thin slices of mango on your face for 10-15 minutes and wash your face. Repeat this quick procedure every day to see immediate results. You can use mango as a body scrub by making a paste of mashed mango, milk and honey. Your skin will feel more tender and smooth after a rejuvenating scrub.

Promote brain function

Considered one of the best brain foods, mango nutrition is packed with vitamin B6, which is essential for maintaining brain function. Vitamin B6 and other B vitamins are also crucial for maintaining the function of brain neurotransmitters and aid in supporting a healthy mood as well as regular sleep patterns. With mangoes as a part of your diet, you can be assured of a healthy brain and effective nerve functioning. The glutamine acid content in mangos also improves concentration and memory.

Boost immunity

Your immune system is your body’s first line of defence against unwanted invaders and has everything to do with keeping you healthy. The generous amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A in mangoes, plus 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy and strong.