If you have a sweet tooth like mine, mangoes are one of your favorite foods. Since they come in various colors and flavors, likely, you have already tried a few of them. However, have you ever tasted honey mango? Do you think the name sounds unique? If you want to know more, this ReadZiD guide is for you.
Everything About Honey Mango
The scientific name of honey mango is Mangifera ‘Ataúlfo.’ In various countries, especially in Mexico, it is known as Ataulfo mango. The gringo pronunciation of this word, ataulfo (a-tool-fo), is widely accepted worldwide. The more refined accent, commonly used in Mexico and Latin America, is ataulfo (a-ta-ool-fo).
Because of the difficulties in pronouncing “Ataulfo,” this unique mango is often called “baby,” “champagne,” “yellow,” and, most commonly, “honey” mango by ordinary people. It is also called the “Miracle Mango” because it frequently bears fruit twice a year, first in the summer and then again in the winter.
Honey Mango Origin:
Honey mango originated in Mexico by the grower. It was founded in Chiapas, Mexico, in the year of 1966. The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial) awarded the government of Chiapas the right to claim these mangoes as a fruit that originated in Mexico. Since it is believed that they were unique from other mangoes grown in the country. Among Mexicans, it is commonly acquainted as Ataulfo mango.
The Ataulfo Mango received its name in a very conventional manner: it was given in honor of the Mexican landowner Ataulfo Morales Gordillo as the area where the mango was initially found belonged to him. Back then, Ataulfo was a semi-common name for older Mexican generations. Soon after the mango was found, it exploded throughout Southern Mexico.
Some believe this mango originated in India and has grown in Asia for over 4,000 years. In addition to this, it is also locally farmed in Ecuador, Florida, and California.
Honey Mango Season:
Summertime is the available season for honey mangoes. Typically, the season of this mango begins in March. These mangoes are available starting in late February, experiencing their peak season from March to mid-July, and then being available from late July through the end of December.
The fruit can only grow in monsoon regions where the temperature does not fall below 5 °C, and the climate is warm and humid with summer rains. With rainfall ranging from 1090 to 3000 mm per year, from April to October, 28 °C is the ideal temperature for this variety of mango.
Honey Mango Description:
- Shape and Colors:
The honey mangoes are small, finely shaped golden oblongs about half as big as regular mangoes. These mangoes have a maximum weight of one pound. While smaller than most mangoes, they contain a relatively thin seed, which means more soft, juicy flesh.
When young, they have pale yellowish-green Skin, and as they age, their Skin turns a dazzling shade of golden apricot. Once fully ripe, their Skin will be bright yellow and slightly wrinkled.
Honey Mango Taste:
- Texture and flavors:
In short, rich sweet flavor! Sounds yummy, right?
Honey mangoes have firm flesh that is creamy and velvety smooth. They have a powerful aroma. It is deep yellow. The thing which makes it more famous is its butter-soft, non-fibrous texture, which makes it perfect for mixing into smoothies, lassis, and sorbets.
Despite typically being smaller than other mango varieties, it makes up for this with a lovely and rich honey flavor.
When Mangoes are Ripe?
When your honey mango is ripe, you can tell it right away.
To determine the ripeness of a honey mango, firstly, you have to pick one that feels heavy for its size. You have to take a look at the color. If your mango is green in color and feels like a rock when you gently squeeze it, then it is not ready yet. It’s ripe when its Skin turns to a deep golden color.
Then give the mango a gentle squeeze. When fully ripe, a mango will have begun to wrinkle, which separates it from other mangoes.
Holding the stem end up to your nose is another option. It ought to have a fruity, pleasant aroma that is unmistakably mango-like.
What is the Shelf Life of Honey Mango?
Raw honey mangoes may be preserved readily at room temperature. Honey mangoes will take about a week to ripen if the temperature stays the same. Ripe mangoes will keep for 2-3 days.
But whole ripe mangos can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. Mangoes can be peeled, cubed, and stored in an airtight container for several days or even up to six months in a freezer or refrigerator.
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Honey Mango Nutrition:
Honey mangoes are an excellent nutritional fiber, vitamins, and minerals source. They are especially rich in vitamin A. 100 g of honey mangos provide 15% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin C and about 25% of the recommended daily consumption of vitamin A, respectively. Additionally, it is a good source of vitamin K and vitamin A.
100 gm honey mangoes also contain 37.5% calcium of the RDI. Besides, among other nutrients, they are rich in folate, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and copper. By the way, do you know what folate is? It goes by the name vitamin B9, which is a natural version of vitamin B.
The calories and the number of carbohydrates in honey mangoes are significant. 100 gm of honey mangoes contains 325 kcal and 80gm carbohydrates.
Mangoes are a very nutritious fruit but also extremely high in sugar. However, it should be consumed in moderation.
Health Benefits of Honey Mango:
- An incredibly effective “super antioxidant” common in honey mangoes named mangiferin may shield your heart from oxidative damage and decrease cholesterol.
- This type of mango contains vitamins A and C, which can help your body create more white blood cells and fight infections, boosting your immune system.
- Due to the presence of a class of enzymes called amylases that aid in breaking ample carbohydrates into smaller sugar molecules, it also helps in good digestion.
- Honey mango also contains some other antioxidants, which may prevent the spread of cancer cells or even kill them and aid in preventing blindness.
- These mangoes also enhance the health of Hair and Skin
Applications:
Both raw (mature) and ripe honey mangoes can be consumed. They are peeled, the flesh is separated from the thin stone, and they are sliced while still green to be eaten with dipping sauces. Pickles and preserves can also be made from green Honey mangoes.
Honey mangoes are frequently consumed unprocessed when they are fully ripe, which occurs approximately a week after picking. These mangoes are pureed, dried, candied, and juiced when made into desserts. To your knowledge, the honey mango with sticky rice dish Khao Niaow Ma Muang is a typical Thai dessert. The mangoes are sliced and placed over the rice, then covered in a coconut cream sauce.
Honey Mango Price:
The honey mango is the most popular item for sweet mangoes. But the price of honey mangoes has been steadily increasing at about 10% per year. Though this trend has been slowed down because of the enhanced marketing techniques available, the increasing demand has forced prices to rise. The 1 kg honey mango cost starts from 0.50$-1$ per kg, though it varies from country to country.
Honey Mango Vs Mango – What’s The Difference?
Although honey mango and other common mangoes belong to the same species and have nearly identical flavors, there are some differences between them:
- Most regular mangoes are grown in South and Southeast Asia, with India alone accounting for over 45 percent of the global mango supply. On the other hand, honey mangoes are grown in Peru, Ecuador, and Mexico.
- Honey mangoes are distinguished by their smaller size when compared to regular mangoes. A honey mango can weigh nearly twice as much as a common mango. However, the larger flesh-to-fruit ratio compensates for these mangoes’ more petite size. As a result, the average honey and regular mango have nearly equal edible parts.
- Honey mangoes have a softer texture and are less fibrous and smooth than regular mangoes when ripe; both mangoes have firm flesh that makes for cleaner eating.
- Regular mangoes can show ripeness on the Skin by turning green or yellow. On the other hand, honey mangoes are only fully ripe when they have developed their distinctive golden-yellow color.
- Honey mangoes typically have their peak season from March to June, during the summer and fall months in the regions where they are grown. On the other hand, regular mangoes have peak seasons from April to July.
Consumers and merchants initially referred to honey mango as Ataulfo mango. But with the increasing popularity, its name changed to honey mango to relieve people from tongue-twisting while pronouncing it. No law mandates one to select from a few mango varieties. Instead, people should experiment with different mangos depending on the season. And I am pretty sure if you try honey mango even for once, you will fall in love with it.
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