Summers and Mangoes : Malda and The Big Debate

There are two things that most South Asians have an experience to share- Cricket and Mangoes. Both cricket and mangoes invoke a feeling of nationalism and sub-nationalism in South Asia.

  

Mangoes , unlike cricket,  is a native of South Asia or erstwhile undivided India. For thousands of years we have produced more than 50% of World’s total Mango production and more than 60% of Mango Varieties globally.

Now with more than 100 varieties around, the big debate has always been – Which Variety is the Best?

In Maharashtra, Alphonso is the favourite. At Karachi, Anwar Ratol is rated the best. In some parts of Bihar, Dudhiya is the best while Mithilanchal prides itself in its own variety of Malda.  For states like Orrisa and West Bengal, Langda is the best while Uttar Pradesh loves their Dasehri.

All these famous varieties of different regions;  Malda of Mithila, Dudhiya of Bihar, Langda of Bengal and Anwar Ratol of Pakistan, belong to the same clan of mangoes. In other words, it is the same mango with a different name. Thus, in the World’s Den of mangoes, it is one variety that dominates the roost.  One reason for Malda’s dominance lies in its unique fragrance and fertile black soil which makes Malda Sweeter. 

  

As history has it, the Malda AAM was taken to different parts of India by Maurya dynasty and later to countries like Thailand and Malaysia by King Ashoka. With time, Malda with cosmetic changes and in the long debate of which Mango is the best has assumed different names.

While we leave the debate open on which variety is the best, at imithila, we strongly agree that Mango is undisputedly the king of fruits and which variety you like the most depends on your childhood experience and taste buds. Undoubtedly Mango as the National Fruit of India should not be in any controversy.       

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