Mango | An Island Favorite


I was revising a story I wrote recently about a childhood mango episode and needed a photo of the very popular 'hog mango'; you can link to and read the story here: Cutarse for hog mango. Now hog mango is a type of Rose mango, but with many spots (we call the spots as bobo). These were the types of mangoes we fed to the pigs - they loved it when the mangoes were placed in water and allowed to 'spoil'. Well, I came across the post below where I found a photo of a pretty Rose mango (or it could be one of those Haitian mangoes).

In any case, any information about mango should be shared, especially when the author quotes some of the varieties found in 'good ole' Trinidad and Tobago. 
I decided to share that post with you. It is from the webpage with the following URL: http://www.search.co.tt/trinidad/food/mango.html

Mango: "Mango"

Genus Species: Mangifera indica
The Mango is a favorite fruit in Trinidad and Tobago. Many, many years ago, it was brought from India, and now grows commonly all over the countryside and in the backyards of town and city houses.
The Mango tree is a big evergreen tree. It makes comfortable shade for people and animals, and cozy sleeping places for birds.

It flowers around Christmas time, and the fruits begin to ripe at around Easter time in the dry season. The 'Mango Season' continues for many months later.

When mangoes are ripe, the juicy pulp becomes a bright yellow to orange in color. The juice is very sweet and delicious. Before they are ripe, they taste sour to slightly acid. At this stage. They can be made into mango chow, by adding salt and pepper to the peeled and sliced fruits.

The fruits are also curried and eaten with other foods, especially so at Indian weddings. Otherwise, they can also be made into peppery appetizers that you know only too well.

There are many varieties. For example, Long mango, Rose, Hog, Calabash, Manzanilla Douxdoux, La Brea Gyul, Turpentine, Mango-tine, Julie, Graham and a few others."
Article Source:  http://www.search.co.tt/trinidad/food/mango.html

Did you know that the succulent Julie mango really comes from Trinidad even though mangoes were originally born in India? At first blush, it sounds like indentured labor. However, in truth, when you think about the varieties of mango that have sprung up wherever there is warm, dry weather in the world, it is really the tale of globalization—everything is everywhere, just bearing the stamp of its immediate environment.

There are innumerable varieties of mangoes, although nearly half of the world's mangoes are grown in India. In the Caribbean alone several types can be found and everyone has their favorite (and their favorite way to eat them!). In Trinidad, the most popular ones are the Julie and the Starch; these mangoes now fetch high prices in the local markets.

But how many can recall names like Long mango, Rose, Hog, Calabash, Manzanilla Douxdoux, La Brea Gyul, Turpentine, Mangotine, Graham, Ten-pound, Bastapool, Belly-bef, Cedar, Cutlass, Peter, Vert, Zabrico; or traditional Tobago fare like Ice-cream, Mango Mossy, and John Buck Mangoes in Moriah and Suppie Mango in Bon Accord, or Button Mangoes in Charlotteville?

Source article: Mango Festival

Here is a list of Mango names found in Trinidad. You can add to the list by leaving a comment with your additions. Try and match the local names below with the official names in the photo above.
  • Long mango (two varieties, one is 'stringy' and a little sour while the other is 'just-right'
  • Rose
  • Hog 
  • Calabash
  • Manzanilla 
  • Douxdoux
  • La Brea Gyul 
  • Turpentine
  • Mangotine 
  • Graham, 
  • Ten-pound 
  • Bastapool 
  • Belly-bef
  • Cedar 
  • Cutlass 
  • Peter
  • Vert, 
  • Zabrico
  • Julie
  • Sous Sous Malin
  • Turpentine
  • Manzanilla
  • Starch
  • Blackman
  • Mango Mossy  &
  • John Buck Mangoes in Moriah  
  • Suppie Mango in Bon Accord 
  • Button Mangoes in Charlotteville

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