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India's Alphonso mangoes are virtually impossible to find in America (2018)

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Re: India's Alphonso mangoes are virtually impossible to find in America (2018)

#21
Try Malgova (malgoa, malgoba) variety. It is a Southern India special variety.

Pulpy, meaty and sweet. Has a distinctive taste.

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan did a bit on Alphonso mangoes and Indians, I think it streams on Netflix.

Just my opinion that the Alphonso is overrated.

Re: India's Alphonso mangoes are virtually impossible to find in America (2018)

#22
Unrelated, but if you're going to go the deep end on Indian, and other Asian fruits, I recommend also trying:

- Rambutan (similar to lychees)

- Custard apple (haven't seen it, but I've heard it can be found)

- Vietnamese Durian (tastes like a milkshake, and I couldn't smell the stinky smell..)

- Guava (they're not very sweet but are very flavorful)

- Sapota (aka Chiku) - the best fruit milkshakes I've had were chiku shakes.

Finally, if these are hard to come by and you can't travel, make the most of your local fruits: there are some incredible apples, blackberries, red raspberries, blue berries in the US that are hard to find in other parts of the world.

Re: India's Alphonso mangoes are virtually impossible to find in America (2018)

#23
Right now I have a huge selection of Alphonsos lying on a bed of hay as it is being naturally ripened along with Malgova mangoes. I will be getting Imam Pasand in a couple of days. For those in the know, Imam Pasand is considered even better than Alphonsos - especially those sourced from a specific part of Tamil Nadu in India.

NOTE: I work with natural and organic farmers in India to try and find a market for their produce.

Believe me when I say this - naturally ripened mangoes are on a different level altogether when it comes to taste. What you get overseas is usually not naturally ripened as the amount of wastage is usually quite high with naturally ripened mangoes.

Re: India's Alphonso mangoes are virtually impossible to find in America (2018)

#24
post #21

Try Malgova (malgoa, malgoba) variety. It is a Southern India special variety. Pulpy, meaty and sweet. Has a distinctive taste. Comedian Romesh Ranganathan did a bit on Alphonso mangoes and Indians, I think it streams on Netflix. Just my opinion that the Alphonso is overrated.

Malgova mangoes - I have a whole lot of them being naturally ripened a few feet from where I am tying this out

Re: India's Alphonso mangoes are virtually impossible to find in America (2018)

#25
post #20
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Sindri and Chaunsa are also available in India (Indian here) but I personally think Alphonsos are much richer in taste and texture. Ymmv. Edit - maybe I’m biased because Alphonsos are pricier so the palate thinks it’s getting something better much like pricey wine vs cheap wine which are basically the same but are perceived differently.

The best mango is Langda - end of discussion.

That mango capsule has paper thin peel and so much pulp, soooo goood.

Re: India's Alphonso mangoes are virtually impossible to find in America (2018)

#26
post #21

Try Malgova (malgoa, malgoba) variety. It is a Southern India special variety. Pulpy, meaty and sweet. Has a distinctive taste. Comedian Romesh Ranganathan did a bit on Alphonso mangoes and Indians, I think it streams on Netflix. Just my opinion that the Alphonso is overrated.

Agree 100%.

Alphonsos are HUGELY over-rated and that's actually a common opinion in India.

I feel they're basically fake mangoes meant for exporting at high prices to foreigners who have no clue what a mango should actually taste like. That weird jelly-like pulp is actually repulsive if you're used to a Chausa or a Langda or so many other great mangoes.

Re: India's Alphonso mangoes are virtually impossible to find in America (2018)

#27

For some reason lots of popular Indian products which india has the potential to supply are banned in USA for one reason or the other. For example, mustard oil and ghee in culinary usage.

You can get ghee at Trader Joe's of all places.

Re: India's Alphonso mangoes are virtually impossible to find in America (2018)

#28

Unrelated, but if you're going to go the deep end on Indian, and other Asian fruits, I recommend also trying: - Rambutan (similar to lychees) - Custard apple (haven't seen it, but I've heard it can be found) - Vietnamese Durian (tastes like a milkshake, and I couldn't smell the stinky smell..) - Guava (they're not very sweet but are very flavorful) - Sapota (aka Chiku) - the best fruit milkshakes I've had were chiku…

These are all common, obvious fruits, several of which are not even from Asia originally. I feel someone speaking from "the deep end" would have more esoteric recommendations but also very strong preferences about what particular cultivars to seek out -- in each case, but especially for durian, where it's almost like each of its hundreds of named varieties can have its own cult following -- when and where to get them, how they should be harvested, how prime individual specimens should be selected, etc. Guava not very sweet? You just haven't had the right variety of guava fully in season. And so on.

Re: India's Alphonso mangoes are virtually impossible to find in America (2018)

#29
For a different take on mangoes:

Check out the Totapuri and Rajapuri varieties. Can be eaten ripe too, and are middling good that way. But what I came here to say is, we as kids used to eat them raw to semi-ripe, sliced into just a few large pieces, and with salt to taste, on lazy summer afternoons, while reading a book or comic. And for some reason you could eat a lot without getting a stomach upset. They had a tangy mildly sour and mildly sweet taste, that did not pall, even on eating large amounts. :)

Re: India's Alphonso mangoes are virtually impossible to find in America (2018)

#30
post #28

Unrelated, but if you're going to go the deep end on Indian, and other Asian fruits, I recommend also trying: - Rambutan (similar to lychees) - Custard apple (haven't seen it, but I've heard it can be found) - Vietnamese Durian (tastes like a milkshake, and I couldn't smell the stinky smell..) - Guava (they're not very sweet but are very flavorful) - Sapota (aka Chiku) - the best fruit milkshakes I've had were chiku…

These are all common, obvious fruits, several of which are not even from Asia originally. I feel someone speaking from "the deep end" would have more esoteric recommendations but also very strong preferences about what particular cultivars to seek out -- in each case, but especially for durian, where it's almost like each of its hundreds of named varieties can have its own cult following -- when and where to get them…

Yes. For a simple example, guava with pink flesh inside is very different in taste from the white flesh ones.
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