Philippines' Sweetest Mango

Mango or "mangga" in Filipino is one of the most eaten fruits in tropical countries around the world. There are about 230 different mango varieties, but the carabao mango or known as Manila super mango is the only variety that makes the Philippines excellent and competitive in mango productions.

carabao mango or Manila Super mango

Mangoes are grown all over the country and consumed about 95% locally rather putting to export. This fruit is the leading favorites of all because of its sweet aroma, soft texture and of course its deep taste.

mango tree

Since mangoes are grown all over The Philippines, the harvest season ca be done monthly, all year round. 

Mango trees need dry, and warm weather to bear fruits. The temperature must not below 40 degree Fahrenheit. However, humid and wet weather give poor quality of fruits.

Mango has its versatility. Aside from can be eaten as fresh, it can be processed and prepared in various ways. Green or unripe mangoes are naturally sour due to its citric, oxalic and malic acids.

The green or unripe mangoes can be processed into sweet pickles, dried slices mango, and the most famous nowadays, the green mango shake. Every restaurant in the Philippines serves green mango shakes especially during summer time.

Green mango or unripe 

sliced green mango

This sour green mango gives mouth-watering look. Also used as side dish and eaten with salt, chili or soy sauce.

In the Philippines, pregnant women crave green mangoes especially in their first few weeks of pregnancy. There's a myth telling if a woman craves green mangoes, for sure she is pregnant! We always hear this line saying "You're craving for green mangoes? Are you pregnant?"

The ripe ones can be prepared as dessert, salad toppings, yogurt toppings and the famous one, shakes. 

Trivia:

This mango variety was listed as the sweetest in the world by the 1995 edition of the Guinness Book of World Record. (Wikipedia)

It is also processed as mango juice, jam, mango wafer, mango powder, pulp fruit bar and the famous dried mangoes which is the high-end product to foreigners.

Here's the nutritional content of mangoes. Great source of vitamin C, E, iron, pottasium, and beta carotene. It's acid level is in 3.5. 

If foreigners are asked what's the most interesting about their visit to the Philippines, they would say a word; mangoes!