General Information
Mangoes range greatly in size, measuring anywhere from 5 to 30 centimeters in length, and weighing from 4 ounces up to 5 pounds. They have leathery, smooth skin, and they can vary in shape from long and slender, to kidney-shaped, or even somewhat round. Their skin is multi-colored with different blends of red, yellow and green, depending on the variety. The succulent, vibrant yellow to orange flesh is aromatic and juicy, with a texture similar to a peach. The flavor is complex and sweet, with notes of peach, coconut, and vanilla or caramel, and is sometimes balanced with a slight tartness. The skin of Mangoes is inedible, and actually contains a sap that can be irritating to some people.
History
Mangoes are native to Southern Asia, especially Burma and eastern India, where they have been cultivated for thousands of years. The earliest mention of Mango is in the Hindu scripture dating back to 4000 BCE, though fossil evidence indicates that the Mango could be much older than that. Historians believe that Mangoes spread across the globe in the hands of traders and travelers, like Buddhist monks who exchanged the fruit as a gift, and Persian vendors who brought the fruit westward with the spice trade. The Portuguese, who landed in Calcutta in 1498, were the first to establish a Mango trade and introduce grafting on Mango trees. During the 16th and 17th centuries, sea-faring Portuguese explorers brought the Mango to Western Africa and eventually to Brazil, and from there the fruit made its way to the West Indies. It reached Mexico in the hands of Spanish explorers in the early 19th century, and finally made its way to the US in the mid 19th century, specifically Florida and California, where the fruit is still commercially cultivated. Today, Mangoes grow in tropical and subtropical climates all over the world, notably Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Peru.
