Types of Mangoes: Mango Varieties From Around the World With Pictures
Many consider mangoes to be the most widely cultivated type of tropical fruit in the world. Because of this, it’s not surprising that there are literally hundreds of mango varieties. Mango varieties can vary in taste and appearance. But most types of mangoes have sweet taste, a juicy fibrous pulp and thick waxy skin.
Mangoes come in a number of varieties with some having reddish-green, yellow, or orange skins. Ripe mangoes also come in varying shapes and sizes including oval and kidney-shaped.
Although mangoes are native to South Asia, many different kinds of mangoes grow in Florida, Spain, the Caribbean, Africa, and Australia.
In this article, you will learn about different kinds of mangoes that are good to eat.
Types of Mangoes: Mango Varieties from Around the World With Pictures
Mangoes (also written mangos) are in the Mangifera genus type of plant, and the “common mango” is the variety that comes from India.
Let’s look in more detail at the many different types of mango available.
Tommy Atkins Mango
The “Tommy Atkins” mango comes from Florida and is one of the most common mango varieties available to buy.
This type of mango is fairly large in size and has an oval shape. The firm yellow flesh is stringy and fibrous. Its delicious, mildly sweet pulp is covered by a thick dark red skin with green patches. This mango variety isn’t classed as one of the sweet varieties of mango, but it’s one of the most popular kinds.
You can usually buy Tommy Atkins mangoes throughout the year; however, spring and summer are when these mangoes are most commonly available.
Ripe Tommy Atkins mangoes are perfect for eating fresh or slicing up in a summer fruit salad. The flesh holds well and there should be minimal amounts of juice.
To know when the Tommy Atkins variety is ripe, give the mango a gentle squeeze. The mango should be slightly soft but still retaining its firmness.
Kent Mango
Also coming from Florida, the Kent variety is a juicy type of mango fruit that has a sweeter taste than the Tommy Atkins.
Kent mangoes are a large mango variety that have dark green skin. There may be some red blushing on the skin, but shades of yellow tell you this type of mango is ripe. Compared to other types of mango, the Kent mango isn’t fibrous and the flesh is very tender.
These Florida varieties are usually available in the winter and summer months. Although originating in Florida, Kent mangoes are also grown in Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru.
The best way to eat ripe Kent mangoes is by eating them fresh, juicing them or drying them. Their high juice content, tender pulp, and a limited number of fibers make them a great ingredient for smoothies.
Alfonso Mango
Alfonso mangoes are a variety of mango originating in India and they have been called “the king of mangoes.” The reason for this description is that Alfonso mangoes are very sweet and juicy.
The Alfonso mango is such a delicious mango that it is one of the most exported types of mangoes from India. The mango is a fairly large type of fruit, and its rich saffron-colored flesh is covered by a fragrant yellow skin with orange blushing.
This Indian type of mango is a fibreless variety with rich creamy flesh that is delicious to eat. You know when this mango is ripe for eating when its skin turns bright yellow with tinges of red on it.
The non-fibrous flesh of the Alfonso means that is great for using to make sorbets, purees, or smoothies. Or, you may just want to cut the mango into chunks and eat the sweet mango fresh.
Haden Mango
The Haden mango is a medium-sized mango that some claim is the original variety of Florida mangoes. In fact, most of the mangoes from Florida are related to the Haden cultivar.
One of the distinctive features of this type of mango is its rich, deep red skin and aromatic scent. As the mango ripens, hints of yellow come through. When it comes to texture, the mango flesh has small fine fibers that help keep the light-yellow flesh firm.
You can usually buy this mango during springtime when the fruits are ripe. The Haden is a good all-around mango that works well in recipes and is tasty to eat on its own.
Francis Mango
Francis mangoes are a type of Haitian mango that is fairly large in size and has a varying colors from yellow to orange and light green.
A distinguishing feature of Francis mangoes is the long S-shape and it is a flatter type of mango. The deep yellow mango flesh is very rich and sweet and only slightly fibrous and not very stringy. This mango variety is great for consuming as it is.
You can expect to find Francis mangoes during spring and summer.
Neelam Mango
Another large type of Indian variety of mango is the Neelam mango. This mango is so tasty that many people claim it’s the best mango in the world.
Neelam mangos have a long oval shape, bright yellow skin when ripening, and fibreless flesh. The taste of this mango species is sweet and slightly acidic. You know when the Neelam is ripe by its delightful mango aromas and the skin turns from green to yellow.
The juiciest and sweetest Neelam mangoes are available in the middle of summer.
Ataulfo Mango
The Ataulfo mango is also called the “Honey Mango” or the “Champagne Mango” due to its very sweet refreshing flavor.
This is one of the smaller varieties of mango and has an oval shape. The yellow mango flesh is protected by thick yellow skin with hints of green and orange. When biting into an Ataulfo mango you will find the flesh to be creamy, sweet, and fibreless. This makes this kind of mango great for using in salads, smoothies, or eating it just as it is.
To tell if this variety of mango is ripe and ready to eat, the yellow skin should be slightly wrinkled and give off a sweet aroma.
Although the Ataulfo comes from Mexico, this type of mango grows in many countries including Thailand, the Philippines, Ecuador, and Peru.
If you want to try this fabulous mango variety, it is usually available from spring until the middle of summer. One of the many reasons to try this type of mango is that the seed is small, so you get a lot juicier mango to eat.
Other than consuming them fresh, you can use Ataulfo mangoes in chutneys, sorbets, pancakes, or muffins. They are also a deliciously sweet addition to roasted meat and poultry.
Palmer Mango
Palmer mangoes are on the list of the largest type of mangoes, with some weighing as much as 2 lb. (0.9 kg)!
This huge Florida variety now grows mainly in Brazil and is generally available late in the season. This large type of mango has a long oblong shape that has shades of green and red on it. When the mango is ripe, there should be some yellowing on the thick skin.
The Palmer mango is a big kind of mango with few fibers in the orange-yellow smooth flesh. Because the flesh isn’t stringy, this is one of the best mangoes to add to your smoothies or other healthy recipes.
You can expect to find ripe Palmer mangoes in stores during the summer and fall months. Give them a gentle squeeze to check for ripeness.
Irwin Mango
The Irwin mango is an attractive mango variety that has vibrant red skin when it’s fully ripe.
This type of mango is another of the Florida varieties and one of the best-selling mango varieties. However, Irwin mangoes also grow in Australia, Japan, Central America, and Taiwan.
Irwin mango has a distinct apple/mango flavor and this is a reason why it is referred to as an “apple mango.” This is not a stringy mango variety as it has virtually no fibers in the pulp. The deep yellow flesh has a delicious sweet flavor when it’s fully ripened.
Expect to find this kind of mango during the summer months.
Glenn Mango
Glenn mangoes are another example of a mango that is delicious to eat on its own.
Originating in Florida, Glenn mangoes have an oval or oblong shape which is pointed at one end and rounded at the other. Compared to other mangoes, the skin is thin and is bright yellow with orange tinge when fully ripened. This is one of the fibreless types of mango varieties to come from Florida.
One of the reasons why some claim this is the best mango to eat is due to its rich sweet taste and exotic tropical aromas.
Valencia Pride Mango
Valencia Pride mangoes grow in Florida and California and are an example of a type of large mango fruit.
The big long oval-shaped mango is covered with a yellow skin that has red blushing on it. These kinds of mangoes have become extremely popular due to their excellent eating qualities. The smooth, fibreless flesh is firm and yellow with a sweet flavor. When ripe, the flesh of Valencia Pride becomes very juicy.
The Valencia Pride cultivar ripens late in the season with the harvest taking place during July and August.
Keitt Mango
Keitt mangoes are a huge variety of mango and they have an oval shape.
Keitt is another Florida mango variety that is popular around the world. Compared to other kinds of Florida mangoes, the Keitt variety is a late-season type of mango with some mangoes ripening in October.
The large round mango has dark green skin with hints of red blushing. The yellow mango pulp has a sweet/tangy taste and it contains some fibers. It is difficult to tell when the mango is ripe as it always stays green even when ripe, so squeeze gently with your finger to check ripeness.
Due to its tangy taste, Keitt mangoes are popular in Asian culture where they are used to make pickles and chutneys.
Kensington Pride Mango
The Kensington Pride mango, or Bowen mango, is an Australian variety of mango and also the most popular kind of mango in the country.
Compared to other types of mango, Kensington Pride mangoes are a big mango variety. The oval mango fruits have a yellowish-green skin that may or may not develop light red shading. The sweet yellow flesh is moderately fibrous and somewhat refreshing.
Madame Francique (Francis) Mango
The Madame Francique (Francis) mango is a Haitian cultivar that has a very unique taste when it comes to mango flavor. This type of mango is fairly large in size and has a varying colors from yellow to orange and light green.
A distinguishing feature of Francis mangoes is the long S-shape and it is a flatter type of mango. The deep yellow mango flesh is very rich and sweet and only slightly fibrous and not very stringy. This mango variety is great for consuming as it is.
Due to its exceptional sweetness, Madame Francique mangoes are known as the “Dessert Mango.”
For mango lovers, this is one of the best kind of mango that grows in the Caribbean.
You can expect to find Francis mangoes during spring and summer.
Chaunsa Mango
The Indian mango variety, the Chaunsa mango, is one of the best mango varieties in the world.
Chaunsa mangoes come in 3 main varieties – Sweet Chaunsa mangoes, Honey Chaunsa mangoes, and White Chaunsa mangoes.
This oblong-shaped type of mango has a golden yellow skin that has hints of red blush on it. The thick skin protects soft yellow flesh that hardly contains any fibers. From most of the mango varieties in the world, Chaunsa mangoes are considered the sweetest. Ripe Chaunsas also have a delightful aroma and the flesh is very juicy.
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