What “luscious, incomparable mangoes” you have! Now people can “go mad for the beautiful, supple flesh,” which we have “denied [ourselves] too long.” The subtext of articles and quotes from restaurateurs and political dignitaries about the re-legalization of U.S. imports of Indian mangoes is positively… fruity.
On less sweet a note, it seems that between production and transportation costs and the stranglehold exercised by Mexican mangoes (how dare they!) on U.S. distribution channels, Alphonsos may cost up to 10 times more than the plebeian mangoes currently available at your local yuppie food mart, tropical store or bodega. The pleasure of the Indian mango, it seems, shall be known by elite mouths only.
I wonder how this will affect the prices of alphonso in India and how much of good fruit would remain to be sold in local markets. Ohh and methinks the mango janeofalltrades is referring to in #31 is called totapuri, paayri is quite the size of an alphonso if not smaller.
Brimful, “Desi Mango Invasion” sounds like a retort to the whole “Marriage and Food” post.
brimful, I was wondeirng the same thing. Didn’t that happen when basmati rice started being exported to the US – the local Indian prices skyrocketed?
JOAT, how can you have been deprived of fresh lychees and the knowledge of mangosteens? What kind of hell hole is the US? (tongue in cheek, tongue in cheek!)
Pah, Alphonsos. Give me a benishaan (banganapalli) any day. The juice mangoes are called rasalus in Telugu.
You know, I am a big fan of the cubing technique but despite a lifetime of gluttonous gorging on mangoes, it was my non-desi husband who introduced me to it. My favorite, though, is the cup technique.
They’re Israeli mangos. A Kosher delicacy. Bruce Springsteen loves them.
teehee it sounds dirty.
actually as a kid..okay, even now…i still get a little out of control with the mangoes. i have to eat them in private or within a safe space otherwise everyone sees what a pig i am. they’re just so darn juicy; i end up with juice down my elbows.
The mangosteen sounds suspiciously like the targola found in Bombay and one of the most refreshing fruits in summer though the tree is very different.
Is anyone else all hot and bothered after reading this thread? Dammit, I need a girlfriend. Preferrably one with…lucious mangoes. Juicy…wet…mangoes. Dripping.
Yeah. Time for a cold shower.
i dunno … i’m perfectly fine with the mulgoa mango over the alphonso. seeing as how boring ol’ florida mangoes are 10 for $10 at the local store, i can’t imagine i’ll be rushing out in search of indian mangoes. someone upthread was right — will be easier to just fly to india for mangoes!
(btw, top 3 foods i couldn’t live without: 1. mango 2. homemade yogurt 3. rice!)
Here are three of my childhood eating habits. Anyone else do these or is it just me?
Thank you Shruti. Mr. Kobs, get your non-Bolly-desi film shiz straight. If there’s anything I know, like in the entire world, it’s those two films.
And Sid Uncle, depending on where you are, the durian can be the hotness. They’re hanging out all ovah the place where I live. All that spikey-ness is kinda sexy.
It can also be the stinkiness. I’m just sayin’. 😉
B’ful – I hear you. But sometimes the smell of feet is… well, hot. What can I say? I like body parts.
That is VERY bad for your teeth. Major wear and tear of the enamel. Of course, tons of people do it.
I can’t wait to get me some desi mangoes, boyee.
One thing that slips under the radar amidst all the juicyness is that this was a deal worked out through a lot of hard work and negotiations between the US government and the Indian government — this type of foreign policy issue, being worked on every day, doesn’t get enough coverage or praise.
It amazes me that the writer of the story has gotten all the details of the importation and irradiation of Alphonso mangoes, but hasn’t a clue that like apples, mangoes don’t grow true to seed. That is, if you take an Alphonso mango seed, and plant it, the resultant fruit could be terrible. That’s mainly why Mexican and Florida mangoes, suck compared to the best India mangoes. To grow the mangoes properly here, you need more than good climate, you need prized grafts, and good root stock. BTW, this whole issue of true-to-seed is discussed in a fascinating book, The Botany of Desire, which discusses how plants interact with humans:
Anyway, those mangoes look yummy….
Aha, now we know why our parents wanted us all to be doctors! They were looking ahead to this day!
To milli, you wrote:
“(btw, top 3 foods i couldn’t live without: 1. mango 2. homemade yogurt 3. rice!)”
I agree with you 100%. I recently discovered that those 3 combined are absolutely fantastic.
Brimful, do you know where in DC desi mangos are available? I’ll be there on business next week.
YES! esp. after the mention of sensual body buffet. I need more friends like Bengali Chick who can take me to one of those parties
I got comment # 69…niiiiiiiice
I think “Desi Mango Invasion” would be a good name for an all desi girl band.
has anyone picked these up in NYC yet? if so, where?
No, but apparently Pres. Bush’s batch arrived, straight from India (via Raghubir Goyal). [thanks to the poster on the news tab]
There’s an Indian Mango festival planned in DC, btw. Supposedly some time in June. Mmmm, mangos.
(Link)
i never knew mangoes were so high in sugar. so let’s see. indians have a high diabetes incident rate? hmmmm. maybe too much mango lowe.
er, incidence
Banganapalli Mangoes are mentioned just once(#54) …WTF(where) is WTF??? 🙂