The season of scorching summer heat can be normal for others in the Indian subcontinent or Asian countries. But for mango lovers, it’s the time of celebration. True mango lovers eagerly wait for the summer season to feel the aromatic smell and relive their fantasy of tasting sweet and flavourful mangoes.
The season of the world’s most loved fruit is back again, and the natives are more excited than ever. And why they shouldn’t be, as Pakistan is one of the top countries that produce millions of tons of seasonal mangoes every year. Similarly, many consider it Pakistan’s national fruit.
So, are you ready to dive into the sweet and honeyed lava of mango juice? Let’s welcome the Badshah of all flavourful fruits by discovering its roots, production and popular varieties in the country here:
Mango – The King of Fruits in Pakistan
“Mangoes need to have two qualities, they need to be sweet, and there needs to be plenty.” ~ Mirza Ghalib.
Pakistanis are always in search of those small moments that revive their happiness and make their days special. Cultural foods, local cuisines and seasoned fruits are the reason for natives to forget their daily loads and pick up the pace of their daily living. Summer season, famously known as mango season by mango lovers, has returned to highlight the local markets. You could hear the loud noises of street vendors at your nearby market. All these slogans and bargaining exchanges are signs of the return of the king in the market.
Pakistani’s love for mangoes can’t be described in words; if you live in the country, you will get the point of what we are talking about. As the majority of the locals don’t want this limited season of mouth-watering and juicy fruit to end.
Roots & Production of Pakistan’s National Fruit
Mangoes and locals in Pakistan have a special connection; that is rooted from ancient civilisations. That’s the reason it is the cultural fruit of the country. From the colonial ruling empires to the current post-moderation era, the king of all fruit has received widespread praise from rulers, emperors and historical figures. Mango is symbolised as the sign of prosperity and happiness; even famous poets have expressed their love for this fruit from heaven.
According to the currently available evidence, mango has more than one thousand varieties. No one knows the exact number, but there are around two hundred recognised types of mangoes in Indian subcontinent countries. The season of mango has been celebrated since the Mughal Empire, and it has become a cultural fruit of Pakistan.
Mirpur Khas – The City of Mangoes
As per the current production rate of mangoes, the country produces around 2 to 3 million tons of mangoes per year. It ultimately accelerates a great amount of revenue every year. If we recall the prime time of Pakistan’s food-producing era, the period between 1995 and 2001 is considered the golden time of mango production in the country.
Cities such as Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Hyderabad, Bahawalpur and Dera Ismail Khan are at the top of the list of mango-producing cities in the country. However, Mirpur Khas is known and tagged as the capital of mango in Pakistan. The city of Mirs is located in Sindh and is also the home of one of the sweetest mango types, Sindhri. According to the locals, the tradition of mango festivals that runs from May to July is rooted in Mirpur Khas city.
Types of Mangoes That Natives Enjoy Eating
Even though our country produces more than two hundred types of mangoes, there are only thirty to forty varieties that natives recognise. We all have our favourite mango type, but there are the top five variants that are popular in the local market of Pakistan.
Following are the highlighting mango types that locals love to eat.
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Hapus (Alphonso), The King of Mangoes
Alphonso (Hapus) is the king of mangoes, mostly produced in South Asian countries. Due to its golden yellowish colour and perfectly round shape, it is called the king of all mangoes. This form of mango is not quite famous for its real name. However, due to its juicy, sugary taste, local street vendors mix hapus with other mangoes. Moreover, Alphonso is famed for being more expensive than others. During the season’s prime, the demand for Hapus mango increases every year.
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Sindhri – The Queen of Mangoes
This type of mango is implanted in Mirpur Khas. Many consider it the sweetest mango in the world. Sindhri contains longer shelf life than others and is mostly available in bigger sizes in the market.
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Chaunsa
Chaunsa is found to be smaller in size, and there are multiple ways of eating this type of mango. Chaunsa has a strong connection with the historical ruler Sher Shah Suri who gave this mellow-flavoured mango its tagged name.
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Dasheri
Many get confused between Sindhri and Dasheri mango. Due to their larger size, both mango varieties are sold in exchange for each other as alternatives. But the inside shape and colour of Dasheri separate it from other types, and its softness reveals the main difference with Sindhri.
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Langra
Langra is the king of mango chutneys and curries. In Pakistan, the use of Langra in homemade pickles becomes regular in the summer season. Langra often comes in green colour and is produced in countries such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
There is a never-ending list of mango types that are sold in Pakistan on regular bases. However, these shared forms are more popular than all. Otherwise, here are other trending types that highlight the mango season every year:
- Lal Badshah
- Anwer Ratol
- Totapuri
- Saroli
- Almas
To Sum It Up
The season of flavoursome mangoes is on, and we all are excited to taste every bit of it. However, many of us don’t know that the market of mango production is declining every year. The reason for the sudden decrease in production is visible to us.
Likewise, crop damage of mango plants due to deadly floods and global warming is the primary grounding cause. That’s why, just like other social and agricultural issues, the shortage of mango is increasing exponentially.
We may not have a clear idea of how we can help the officials to resolve this issue. But we can spread awareness through various social media platforms because mango is our national fruit and the reason for the happiness of million in the country.
