Known as the “King of all fruits” Mango holds a special place in the heart of every Goan. Among the varieties of mangoes cultivated in Goa, Mankurad stands as one of the best. The size of these mangoes is smaller and the colour is between red yellow and green. Apart from the mankurad mango Goa sells many other varieties as well. Some people from all across the state give their mango trees on lease for a year or more, In Konkani they say( Rennak dita). As summer approaches, vendors pluck the mangoes and sell them to distributors, who then supply them to local markets and supermarkets. Farmers cultivate more than 100 varieties of mango in Goa, along with some varieties from other states. Below are some of the highly popular varieties mostly eaten in Goa.
Types of Mangoes in Goa
Mankurad Mango
The Mankurad Mango is the king of all other varieties of Mangoes in Goa. This mango has a very unique sweet and sour taste and delights the taste buds of everyone who tries it. Originally this mango was named “Malcorado” by the Portuguese, which means “poor color”; it later ripens and turns into mankurad. Mankurad mango has a very small and flat seed, it is more fleshy and pulpy and has less fibrosis.
Alphonso Mango
People named the Alphonso Mango, known as Hapus in Goa, after the Portuguese leader Alfonso de Albuquerque. The Portuguese Duke introduced the Alphonso mango, and now it is hard to imagine mangoes without them. These types of mangoes are very big, juicy and sweet. You can find them all over Goa.
Fernandina Mango
The Fernandina Mango is a type of mango that resists spoilage from fruit flies and rain. Farmers originally cultivated it in Bombay, and now they grow it in Goa. This type of mango takes a long time to grow and is harvested later, in June. The Fernandina mango is the only mango in Goa which has more consistent pulp than others. Fernandina mango is a table fruit. It is yellow with a tangy little reddish shade on the shoulder.
Xavier Mango
Xavier is a type of special mango in Goa, Known for its sweet and sour taste. The Goans often take pride in this mango and would rather choose the Xavier Mango over the Ratnagiri Alphonso mango. Goans eagerly wait for the Xavier mango season. It starts in April and lasts till May. They are sold in all parts of Goa and come with fibrosis and without fibrosis as well.
Monserate Mango
Farmers grow this mango only in North Goa, naming it after the Bardez taluka where it first appeared. In the start, this mango is vibrantly red and used to make jams, pickles and other processed food.
Hilario
The Hilario mango is also known as Mangilal, Mangilar, and Mang Hilario. This type of mango is popular in north Goa, just like the Mankurad mango. This Mango got the name Hilario after the story about the tree of Hilario Fernandes’ yard in Shiolim, Bardez. This mango arrives during late summer towards the end of July making a high demand in the market.
