Mango

The mango, scientific name Mangiferaindica, is considered to be the king of all fruits. It is one of the most vital ancient fruits for humankind. In history, it is found that mangoes have always been prized in India and are the favourite fruit of the nation.Mango is one of the fruits that finds its mention prominently in the old Sanskrit scriptures and literature. Pilgrims from China who travelled to India in the seventh century A.D have also spoken about the significance of this fruit. During the Mughal rule in India, mangoes were honoured with real patronage. It is said that Lakh Bagh has one lakh mango tree planted in Bihar, Darbhanga, by the Mughal emperor Akbar. The Shalimar Garden of Lahore and Mughal Gardens located near Chandigarh, Pinjore are some of the mango orchards planted in that same period. These gardens are still preserved, and they prove the high esteem of this royal fruit from the past. In tropical and sub-tropical climates, mango is the most enjoyed fruit in summer. Several authorities have testified that mango originated in the Indo Burma region. Mangoes are believed to be cultivated about four thousand years ago. It has a special place in people’s hearts and is interwoven with the folklore and rituals in India. Mangoes are useful, antique, and accessible. It has been at par with excellence for millions of years now. It is also the national fruit of India, and it has got its royal status because of its utility and beauty. Mangoes are righteously known as the “King” of fruits. Around 1869, grafted mangoes were taken from India to Florida, and much earlier, mangoes were introduced in Jamaica. From then onwards, this fruit is grown on a commercial level across the globe. The leading producers of mangoes are India, Pakistan, Mexico, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Brazil, and the Philippines. India tops the list as it produces approximately 16.2 to 16.5 million tonnes of mangoes per year. The leading states in which the mangoes are grown are Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Bihar, Kerala, Gujarat, and Karnataka. Uttar Pradesh produces almost 24% of the total mango count. India accounts for 42% of the mango production throughout the world, and henceforth, the export of this fruit has bright prospects. There is a flourishing trade of bottled mango juices, canned mango slices, and other mango products. The fruit is almost exported to 20 countries, and its products are sent to over 40 countries. However, the turn out of the mango exports varies almost every year. India is currently exporting mangoes to Singapore, United Kingdom, Bahrain, Arab Emirates, Qatar, USA, Bangladesh, etc This pulpy fruit grows during the summer season. The cultivation of mango started around 6000 years ago. They come in both flavours of sweet and sour. Moreover, they are also very rich in minerals and nutrients.Mangoes have unique nutritional and medicinal qualities which makes it very beneficial. It is a rich source of vitamin A and C. In addition to having a beautiful shape and appearance, the taste of mango is very delicious. Similarly, mango in ripe form is highly energising and fattening according to nutritional experts. What’s interesting is that we can use every part of the mango from its root to top in a lot of ways. Even in its various stages of growth, we use it in a lot of ways. For instance, we use it for extracting tannin in its raw stage. Similarly, we also use it to make chutneys, curries and pickles at this stage. Further, we also use it to make tasty squashes, jams, juices, jellies, nectars, syrups and more. Mango also comes in a can in slice and pulp form which is ready to use. Moreover, we also use the inside kernel of the stone of the mango as a source of food. Every year, a huge amount of mangoes are produced. During summers, people eat it almost daily as a dessert. A lot of people also love to eat it in the form of ice creams. Thus, it brings a lot of happiness to all ages of people. Moreover, the added health benefits it provides just makes the fruit even more desirable.Mangoes are eating as it is because they are very sweet. We also use them as squashes, juices, nectars, syrups as well as jams and jellies. They are available in cans too for desserts. Moreover, many people preserve it in the form of a pickle too.