Mangoes "The king of summer fruits" is not only delicious in taste but healthy too. The mango is among the most delicious of all the tropical fruits; but, when unripened, this "fruit" is used as a vegetable. The mango originated in Southeast Asia where it has been grown for over 4,000 years. Over the years mango groves have spread to many parts of the tropical and sub-tropical world, where the climate allows the mango to grow best. The Portuguese introduced the Mango to a wider audience in the 16th century taking the fruit to Africa from Southern India. It reached Brazil and the W. Indies in the 18th century and Mexico and Florida in the 19th Century. India remains the World's largest producer. Top Mango exporters are India, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, Israel, South Africa and Peru.
Climatic Condition required for it's growth: Mango trees require hot, dry periods to set and produce a good crop. The mango is tolerant to a wide range of climatic conditions. It is successfully cultivated, under conditions which vary from very hot, very humid to cool and dry, to very hot and arid. Climatic conditions in a specific area will, firstly determine whether mangoes can be cultivated commercially in the given area, and secondly, will influence the choice of cultivators.
It is advised that the average temperature during winter, should preferably be above 5 degrees C. For optimum growth, and production, the average maximum temperature should be between 27 and 36 degrees C. Mangoes will grow in areas with an average annual rainfall of less than 300mm, provided other climatic conditions are favorable. Mangoes grow and produce well on a wide variety of soil types. Under irrigation, mangoes grow will in soils with an unimpeded depth of more than 1 m. The ideal soil texture for mango cultivation under irrigation is a sandy loam or loam, i.e. with a clay content of 15 - 25%.
Varieties of mangoes: There are over 2,500 varieties of mango, and all are green when unripe. Some remain green, while other turn golden, bright red, or a combination of these colors. Mangoes can be round, oval, heart-shaped, or kidney-shaped; and can weigh as little as a few ounces or as much as five pounds.
Some of the more popular varieties include:
Nutritional facts: Mango is an excellent source of carotene, vitamin A, C, E, B vitamins, and copper. It is also a good source of potassium, magnesium and a very good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. 1-cup serving of sliced mango provides 12% of the daily value of fiber; more than half is soluble fiber, the type of fiber that binds on to cholesterol and helps to prevent cardiovascular disease. Mangoes have a high concentration of carotenoids, antioxidants, and various flavonoids. For the health conscious, 100g of mango contains about 75 calories.
Benefits of mangoes include:
How to select and store: When selecting a mango there are a few key qualities to look for.
Enjoy Quick Mango Shake with your family and here is how:
Blend all the ingredients in a mixer until smooth. Pour it into tall glasses and serve immediately.
It's advisable not to have more than two mangoes in a day, particularly if watching calories, but when you eat them make sure you enjoy the full flavor. So next time when you go for shopping don't forget to get mangoes for the better health of you and your loved ones.
(Sources: mad4mango.com, mango.co.za, innvista.com, freshmangoes.com, disabled-world.com, niyasworld.blogspot.com, goodwithchildren.com)