Did you know it’s National Mango Day today? Well, the King of fruits certainly deserves that honour and pride of place. It is worthy of putting on a pedestal.
Is there a history to it?
The origins and history of the day are unknown. What is known is that mangoes were first grown in India around 5000 years ago. The fruit is closely linked to Indian folklore and religious rites. A mango orchard was gifted to Buddha himself.
Mango travelled throughout Asia, East Africa, the Middle East, and South America. In the 10th century AD, mangoes were grown in East Africa. The word was derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Manjiri’ and scientifically named ‘Mangifera’. Later the word Mango was given by English and Spanish-speaking nations, taken from the Malayali word ‘Manna’. The Portuguese accepted the word Manga when they arrived in Kerala for the spice trade in the year 1498.
Due to the difficulties of transferring seeds, which only remain viable for a limited period, the tree was not introduced into the Western Hemisphere until around 1700, when it was planted in Brazil. It later entered the West Indies in around 1740.
Here is more mango trivia
- Miyazaki mango is known to be the most expensive variety of the lot. It is priced at Rs 2.70 lakh per kilogram in the international market. Miyazaki mangoes are also known as eggs of the Sun. The Miyazaki mangoes are grown in Japan, and they are named after the city of Miyazaki where they are harvested, primarily. Each mango weighs about 350 grams and is lovely red in colour. It resembles a dinosaur’s egg in appearance. It is a type of Irwin mango that is unlike the yellow ‘pelican mango’ grown in Southeast Asia. Owing to its fiery red colour, the Miyazaki is also known as a dragon’s egg.
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A couple, Sankalp Parihar and Rani from Madhya Pradesh had planted two Miyazaki mango trees in their orchard in Jabalpur. They had received the mango saplings in 2020 during their train journey from a man who was travelling to Chennai. They had no idea that the saplings were of the world’s costliest mangoes. They planted the saplings in their orchard but found out later that the fruits were quite different in colour. They call the mangoes Damini, after Sankalp’s mother. After thieves tried to steal the mangoes, the couple stationed 4 security personnel and six dogs in the orchard to protect this rare variety. They were offered Rs 21000 per kg for the delectable Miyazaki mangoes by a businessman, recently, but they refused as they intend to offer the first mango to God, as per a News18 report.
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Mangoes are cultivated in India at a rate of around 20 million tonnes per year.
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A mango tree may reach up to 100 feet above base.
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Most mangoes marketed in the US are supplied from Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Guatemala, and Haiti.
- Other countries that have celebrations around the fruit include Canada, Jamaica, the Philippines, and the United States.
- The sweetest mango is found in the Philippines.
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Mangoes contain approximately 20 distinct vitamins and minerals, which contribute to their status as a superfood.
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3/4 cup mango has 50% of your daily vitamin C, 8% of your daily vitamin A, and 8% of your daily vitamin B6.
- A mango serving size is comparable to 3/4 cup sliced fruit and has just 70 calories.
