The Alphonso Mango isn’t called The King of Mangoes for nothing. This seasonal fruit is considered to be among the most superior varieties of the fruit in terms of sweetness, richness and flavour and is also one of the most expensive varieties of mango. It is cultivated mainly in the western parts of the country such as Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri and Raigad districts and in the Konkan region of India and is also often referred to as ‘Haapus’.
Interestingly, the mango got its name from Afonso de Albuquerque, a nobleman and military professional who helped establish Portuguese colonies in India. The Portuguese introduced grafting on mango trees to produce extraordinary varieties like Alphonso. The fruit was then introduced to the Konkan region in Maharashtra, Gujarat and parts of south India.
Each Alphonso mango weighs between 150 and 300 grams and its pulp is most regularly used to make sweets, candies, milkshakes and smoothies. Because of its sweetness, it is also consumed directly when ripe.
