Move Over Mango
FRUIT OF THE MONTH, SEPTEMBER! Mangoes are juicy stone fruit from numerous species of tropical trees belonging to the flowering plant genus Mangifera, cultivated mostly for their edible fruit.
The majority of these species are found in nature as wild mangoes. Take a look below for 10 fun and interesting facts about mangoes.
1. Mangoes are native to South Asia, from where the common mango or Indian mango, Mangifera indica, has been distributed worldwide to become one of the most widely cultivated fruits in the tropics.
2. Mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, and the national tree of Bangladesh.
3. In India, the harvest and sale of mangoes happens from March to May. This is annually covered by news agencies.
4. The Mughal emperor Akbar is said to have planted a mango orchard having 100,000 trees in Darbhanga, eastern India.
5. In Hinduism, the perfectly ripe mango is often held by Lord Ganesha as a symbol of attainment, regarding the devotees’ potential perfection.
6. Dried mango skin and its seeds are used in Ayurvedic medicines.
7. Mango leaves are used to decorate archways and doors in Indian houses and during weddings and celebrations, such as Ganesh Chaturthi.
8. In Andhra Pradesh, mango leaves are considered auspicious and are used to decorate front doors during festivals.
9. In Tamil Nadu, the mango is referred to as one of the three royal fruits, along with the banana and jackfruit, for their sweetness and flavor. This triad of fruits is referred to as ma-pala-vazhai.
10. In the West Indies, the expression “to go mango walk” means to steal another person’s mango fruits. This is celebrated in the famous song, “The Mango Walk.”