Stone Fruit Trees Flowering Plant Anacardiaceae Native South Southeast Asia Fruits Tropics Center of Diversity India Horse Mango
Stone Fruit Trees Flowering Plant Anacardiaceae Native South Southeast Asia Fruits Tropics Center of Diversity India Horse Mango
Stone Fruit Trees Flowering Plant Anacardiaceae Native South Southeast Asia Fruits Tropics Center of Diversity India Horse Mango
Contents
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1 Description
2 Etymology
3 Cultivation
4 Food
o
4.1 Cuisine
4.2.1 Nutrients
4.2.2 Phytochemicals
4.3 Flavor
6 Cultural significance
7.1 Cultivars
8 Gallery
9 See also
10 References
11 Further reading
12 External links
Description[edit]
Mango trees grow up to 3540 m (115131 ft) tall, with a crown radius of
10 m (33 ft). The trees are long-lived, as some specimens still fruit after
300 years[citation needed]. In deep soil, the taproot descends to a depth of 6 m
(20 ft), with profuse, wide-spreading feeder roots; the tree also sends
down many anchor roots, which penetrate several feet of soil.
The leaves are evergreen, alternate, simple, 1535 cm (5.913.8 in)
long, and 616 cm (2.46.3 in) broad; when the leaves are young they
are orange-pink, rapidly changing to a dark, glossy red, then dark green
as they mature. The flowers are produced in terminal panicles 1040 cm
(3.915.7 in) long; each flower is small and white with five petals 5
10 mm (0.200.39 in) long, with a mild, sweet odor suggestive of lily of
the valley. Over 400 varieties of mangoes are known, many of which
ripen in summer, while some give double crop.[4]The fruit takes three to
six months to ripen.
The ripe fruit varies in size and color. Cultivars are variously yellow,
orange, red, or green, and carry a single flat, oblong pit that can
be fibrous or hairy on the surface, and which does not separate easily
from the pulp. Ripe, unpeeled mangoes give off a distinctive resinous,
sweet smell. Inside the pit 12 mm (0.0390.079 in) thick is a thin lining
covering a single seed, 47 mm (0.160.28 in) long. The seed contains
the plant embryo. Mangos have recalcitrant seeds; they do not survive
freezing and drying.[5]
Etymology[edit]
Green mangoes
text. The origin of the "-o" ending in English is unclear.[8] Mango is also
mentioned by Hendrik van Rheede, the Dutch commander of Malabar
(Northern Kerala) in his book Hortus Malabaricus, a compendium of the
plants of economic and medical value in the Malabar, published in 1678.
[9]
Cultivation[edit]
Cultivation came later to Brazil, the West Indies, and Mexico, where
Food[edit]
Mangoes are generally sweet, although the taste and texture of the flesh
varies across cultivars; some have a soft, pulpy texture similar to an
overripe plum, while others are firmer, like a cantaloupe or avocado, and
some may have a fibrous texture. The skin of unripe, pickled, or cooked
mango can be consumed, but has the potential to cause
contact dermatitis of the lips, gingiva, or tongue in susceptible people.
Cuisine[edit]
Mangoes are widely used in cuisine. Sour, unripe mangoes are used
in chutneys,athanu, pickles,[19] side dishes, or may be eaten raw
with salt, chili, or soy sauce. A summer drink called aam panna comes
from mangoes. Mango pulp made into jelly or cooked with red
gram dhal and green chillies may be served with cooked rice.Mango
lassi is popular throughout South Asia,[20] prepared by mixing ripe
mangoes or mango pulp with buttermilk and sugar. Ripe mangoes are
also used to make curries. Aamras is a popular thick juice made of
mangoes with sugar or milk, and is consumed with chapatis or pooris.
The pulp from ripe mangoes is also used to make jam
called mangada. Andhra aavakaaya is a pickle made from raw, unripe,
pulpy, and sour mango, mixed with chili
powder, fenugreek seeds, mustard powder, salt, and groundnut oil.
Mango is also used in Andhra to make dahl preparations.Gujaratis use
mango to make chunda (a grated mango delicacy).
Mangoes are used in preserves such as moramba, amchur (dried and
powdered unripe mango), and pickles, including a spicy mustard-oil
pickle and alcohol. Ripe mangoes are often cut into thin
layers, desiccated, folded, and then cut. These bars are similar to
dried guava fruit bars available in some countries. The fruit is also added
to cereal products such asmuesli and oat granola. Mangoes are often
prepared charred in Hawaii.
Unripe mango may be eaten with bagoong (especially in
the Philippines), fish sauce, or with dash of salt. Dried strips of sweet,
ripe mango (sometimes combined with seedless tamarind to
form mangorind) are also popular. Mangoes may be used to make
juices, mango nectar, and as a flavoring and major ingredient in ice
cream and sorbetes.