Liberian Mango (Tommy Atkins?)
My favorite fruit has always been berries (especially raspberries) but recently the mango took over the number one spot. Not that I don't like berries anymore, I just have not been able to eat fresh ones for a long time. But instead of lamenting the lack of berries, I have spoiled myself with fresh mangos, first from our own garden in Haiti a few years ago, and now from numerous trees scattered around the compound where we live in Liberia. My friend, David, is the gardener here and he kindly keeps his eye out for the good ones and let's me know as soon as they are ready. We are now in the peak season for mangos and it is my favorite time of the year for mango recipes... and just plain mango snacking.
There are thousands of different varieties of mangos throughout the world. The Alphonso is considered as "the king of Mango". It has yellow and light green skin and very smooth, non-fibrous fruit. The Alphonso variety is now imported to the US from India but it is only available in April and May.
The following are the most available/popular mango varieties in the US market:
Source : National Mango Board and Fresh mangos
KENT MANGO
(Central and South America)
The fruit is a regular oval shape, large (20 - 26 ounces), with plump cheeks, greenish-yellow color with red shoulder. Very rich and sweet with fiber-free flesh.
Available from January - March, End of May - Mid September
TOMMY ATKINS MANGO
(Central and South America)
The fruit is a regular oval, medium to large sized (12 to 24 ounces), yellowish-orange with deep red to purple blush, thicker skinned, juicy but firm with medium fiber.
Available year around.
HADEN MANGO
(Central and South America)
The fruit is a regular oval, large (16 - 24 ounces), yellow almost entirely washed over with an orange-red color, mild in flavor with a small amount of fiber.
Available from February - July
ATAULFO MANGO
(Mexico)
The fruit is a small, flat, oblong shape (6 - 12 ounces), greenish yellow to deep golden when ripe; delicious, very sweet, rich in flavor and close to fiber free.
Available from Feb - August
KEITT MANGO
(Central and South America and the Gambia)
The fruit is a large (20-26 oz.) ovate tapering with slight nose-like protuberance above its tip. Green to orange-yellow as it ripens; firm flesh with a piney sweetness and minimal fiber surrounding the seed area. A late fruiting mango, often available into fall.
Available from May - September
FRANCINE MANGO
(Haiti)
The fruit is a medium to large size, greenish to bright yellow color; soft and juicy with some fiber.
Available from March - August
If you are interested in more mango information, check out this website from National Mango Board. You can find out everything about mangos including great recipes