Lots of customers ask me what is the best variety of mango. The answer is different mangoes mature at different times and so the answer will vary as the season progresses. Last week and prior I would have said its KPs, not so this week. We are definitely past the best Northern Territory KPs and it’s a bit early for QLD - they are here but not really ready. Honey Golds from the Territory are absolutely the best mango we have this week.
Loose on the stack we have extra-large premium fruit which at first glance looks quite dear, but they are such a big solid piece of fruit and the Honey Golds all have a relatively small seed that per kg what you are buying is not really dear. As well we have mixed sizes of slightly blemished fruit on our imperfect stack, a real bargain, that’s what I will be taking home. This mango has a much more orange / golden coloured skin and the flesh is almost fibreless, so fantastic for salads and smoothies. They have plenty of life especially this early in the season, high in vitamin A and C, beta-carotene and potassium, so fantastic to eat and good for you too.
HOW TO PICK
The best way to buy a mango is to simply use your nose. A ripe fresh mango should have a fragrant tropical fruity aroma, a full colour and will give slightly to the touch, but stay away from very soft or bruised fruit. An unripe mango has no scent and can have an unpleasant chemical taste when eaten.
HOW TO STORE
When stored properly a mango should have a shelf life of about a week. A mango will not ripen in the refrigerator mangoes should not be refrigerated. Never store mangoes in plastic bags - mangoes need air.
