Mangifera 'Alphonso'
Alphonso mangoes
GenusMangifera
SpeciesMangifera indica
Cultivar'Alphonso'
Marketing namesHapus[1]
OriginIndia

The Alphonso mango, also called the hapus mango, is a named mango cultivar that originated in India.[2]

Origin

The variety is named after Afonso de Albuquerque, a distinguished militarian and viceroy of Portuguese India from 1509 to 1515.[2] Jesuit missionaries introduced grafting on mango trees in Portuguese Goa, to produce varieties like Alphonso.[3] In 1563, Garcia da Orta wrote of Alphonsos grown in Portuguese Bombay, which were to be presented to the governor (viceroy) in Goa.[4] Alphonso is also one of the most expensive varieties of mango,[2] and is grown mainly in the Konkan region of western India.[5][6][7] and also grown in Valsad and Navsari district of south Gujarat.[8]

Plantation of Alphonso mangoes

Description

The Alphonso mango is a seasonal fruit harvested from mid-April through the end of June.[2] The time from flowering to harvest is about 90 days, while the time from harvest to ripening is about 15 days.[9] The fruits generally weigh between 150 and 300 grams (5.3 and 10.6 oz), have a rich, creamy, tender texture and delicate, non-fibrous, juicy pulp.[10] As the fruit matures, the skin of an Alphonso mango turns golden-yellow with a tinge of red across the top of the fruit.[10]

Culinary

Mango sorbet, ice cream, lassi, soufflé, mousse, and puree are some culinary preparations using Alphonso mangoes.

Trade

The Alphonso is prized in domestic and international markets for its taste, fragrance and vibrant color.[2] It is exported to various countries, including Japan, Korea and Europe.[11]

Import bans

An import ban imposed in 1989 by the United States on Indian mangoes, including the Alphonso, was lifted in April 2007.[12] However, the mangoes needed to be treated before entering the country in order to stop the introduction of non-native fruit flies, destructive fungi, and other pests that could harm American agriculture. The European Union imposed a ban beginning in April 2014 on import of mangoes after finding "non-European fruit flies" in some consignments, creating a significant threat to UK salad crops.[13] The Indian government had described this decision as arbitrary and businesses claimed they would suffer financial losses due to the ban.

In January 2015, the European Commission lifted the ban following significant improvements in the Indian mango export system.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Aaditi Shah (4 June 2018). "The Story of Alphonso Mangoes". livehistoryindia.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Sukhadwala, Sejal (27 April 2012). "Do you know Alphonso mango?". The Guardian.
  3. ↑ Alvares, Patricia Ann (15 April 2019). "The Jesuits and the Mango". The Times of India.
  4. ↑ Vikram Doctor (10 June 2017). "How India's mango diplomacy has been winning friends and foes over the years". The Economic Times. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  5. ↑ Nagpaul, Dipti (15 May 2014). "The king at your doorstep". Indianexpress.com.
  6. ↑ Bhavika Jain (25 Apr 2017). "Alphonsoes from Devgad and Sindhudurg get GI tag". Times Of India.
  7. ↑ "Geographical indicator approved for Devgad Alphonso". DNA India. 7 Jun 2016.
  8. ↑ Thomas, Melvyn Reggie; Bhatt, Himansshu (June 7, 2017). "Gujarat: South Gujarat produces 180 varieties of mangoes". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  9. ↑ Deshpande, Ashish B.; Anamika, Krishanpal; Jha, Vineet; et al. (2017-08-18). "Transcriptional transitions in Alphonso mango (Mangifera indica L.) during fruit development and ripening explain its distinct aroma and shelf life characteristics". Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 8711. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-08499-5. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 5562913. PMID 28821734.
  10. 1 2 Subramanian, Sarmishta (5 May 2010). "The king of mangoes". Macleans, Rogers Media. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  11. ↑ "GI tag for Konkan Alphonso". The Times of India. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "Indo-US Trade in Wheat and Mango: A Game-Theoretic Approach to SPS Standards" (PDF). Iimahd.ernet.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-09. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
  13. ↑ Sinha K (18 May 2015). "Alphonso mango makes a comeback in UK after 7-month ban". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  14. ↑ "Alphonso mangoes: EU lifts ban on Indian mango imports". The Independent, Independent Digital News & Media, London, UK. 20 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2015-01-22. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
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