Chaunsa
Sindhri
Langra
Anwar Ratol
Neelum
Uses of Mangoes
If you ask a Pakistani what is the one thing they look forward to in the summers. The answer you are most likely to receive is
Mangoes
Mangoes
and
Mangoes!
Almost every household in Pakistan is obsessed with the sweet and tangy flavor of “The king of fruits”. Our homes start to give off a sweet and distinct smell from the early start of May, as that is when this summer delicacy hits the market.
While many of us enjoy mangoes, a little too much, we don’t usually know the many types of mangoes in the Pakistani market and what their specialty is. So let us now tell you of the many delicious varieties of mangoes.
Mangoes are as close to a Pakistani’s heart as Karachi Biryani is to a Karachite!
So without any further ado, let’s begin!
Most Popular Types of Mangoes
Did you know that there are around 1500 types of mangoes in the world? Of which. over 400 of them are grown right here, in Pakistan. Out of these 400 types, around 30 are grown on a commercial level. Let us now tell you about some of these.
Chaunsa
At the start of the month June, every Pakistani starts to look for the ‘chaunsa aam’. This specific mango is of the golden yellow color, it has a very aromatic and pleasant smell, while the mango is sweet in taste, fibreless and pulpy. Chaunsa mango possesses a higher level of vitamin C as compared to other mangoes.
If you are a lover of drinking the delicious juice of mango instead of eating it, you can soften up the outer layer before you remove the mango’s eye connected to the stem. All you have to do is gently rub the mango’s layer inwards till it gets soft and enjoy the mouthwatering juice!
The popularity of this mango can be owed to Sher Shah Suri. Legend has it that after he defeated Humayun at Chausa in Bihar, he later on consumed his favorite type of mango and thus proceeded to name it Chaunsa.
Sindhri
This yellow colored mango is extremely sweet in taste, and thus is called the ‘Queen of Mangoes’. The name ‘Sindhri’ was given to the mango, as it originates from the town of Sindhri in Mirpur Khas District. The Sindhri mango is low in fiber and aromatic, as mentioned above these mangoes are extremely sweet, however at the start of the season you may find some tangy ones as well.
Towards the end of the season, between May and August, they grow in larger sizes. The season of Sindhri mangoes gives a rise to milkshake consumption across the country, since they are most widely used in milkshakes.
Langra
The Langra aam is green in color and its size varies. What’s different about this particular mango is that its color stays green, even when it fully ripens.
As you cut Langra aam, you will find that its flesh is fibreless and yellowish brown color. As soon as you cut it, its sweet aroma instantly fills your surroundings. Compared to other species of mangoes, it is very sweet.
The folklore behind the name of the mango is actually quite unique. Unlike the other types of mangoes, it is not named after a place or a person, rather it is named after a particular trait of the owner of the farm, where the type of the mango originated from. You see, ‘Langra’ means lame. The tree is said to have belonged to a farmer in Varanasi, previously known as Banaras in India. The farmer was called langra by his friends and thus, the name Langra was given to this particular mango.
Anwar Ratol
Due to the high demand of this mango, it is available in the markets twice during the mango season.
Anwar Ratol can be found in the markets in early June, at this time, the skin of this mango is thin and it tastes extremely sweet. However, due to high demand and low production, it stays in the markets for only two weeks. This sweet type of mango, hits the market for the second time in late July, but this time, it has a comparatively thicker skin and is less sweet in taste.
It is small in size and has a strong aroma. It is usually preferred while making chutneys and pickles. It was first grown in the farms of a village named Ratol in Uttar Pradesh, India, by a farmer named Anwar-ul-Haq, and thus was given the name Anwar Ratol.
Anwar Ratol can also be called the pride of Pakistan. Every year since 1981, the government of Pakistan sends Anwar Ratol to the heads and diplomats of various nations, to not only promote the export of mangoes, all the while strengthening the relations with them.
Neelum
This type of particular mangoes have smooth skin and are bright yellow on the inside. They are fibreless and have an empowering aroma. They ripe later in the mango season and can also be stored for a long time.
The mango is named after the tree of a similar name and is usually used to make desserts.
Uses of Mango in Pakistan
The love Pakistanis have for mangoes cannot be outmatched. As soon as they enter the market, mangoes become a daily part of our lives. They can be eaten raw, used in salads and desserts; they can even be consumed in breakfast. A huge number of Pakistanis love to eat mangoes with paratha in their breakfast. Unripe mangoes are used to make ‘Aam ka Aachar’ (mango pickle).
Because of the obsession we have for this fruit, the cultivators grow it with the utmost care and love, which is the main reason why Pakistan’s mangoes are considered as some of the best mangoes in the world, thus making Pakistan one of the biggest exporters of the King of Fruits.
So while you are planning your picnic this summer, whether it is in a water park in Karachi or a park in Islamabad, do not forget to include mangoes in your plan, for there is no better sweet to consume after a relaxing day.
This brings us to an end on our blog about the best mangoes in Pakistan, we have told you some of the most popular species of mangoes grown and consumed in Pakistan. Tell us which mango you wait for during the season of king of fruits, by writing to us at blogs@jagahonline.com.
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