Mango Tango by Susan Campbell
Though a luscious and healthy snack as a solo performer, mangoes crave palatable partners to seduce taste buds into an even more exotic embrace. A royal legacy
Mankind’s love affair with mangoes goes back 4,000 years to Southeast Asia. In their earliest history they were recognized as an imperial treat and in ancient India, ownership of mammoth mango gardens was a regal status symbol so mangoes became christened the fruit of kings. The tree itself became romanticized with folkloric legends of love and good luck and even today it’s thought that if you make a wish under a mango tree it will come true. Now, mangoes are known worldwide; their popularity revealed by the fact that more mangoes are
eaten on a global scale than any other fresh fruit! There are thousands of mango varieties, and all boast the same juicy interior and sunshiny taste. The species common throughout the Caribbean was introduced by Portuguese explorers in the 18th century. The trees (Mangifera indica) are deep-rooted, symmetrical evergreens that grow only in frost-free regions. They thrive in the islands where they are as welcome for their shade as their fruit, and they can tower up to 100 feet in height! A tempting tease
Once you have chosen a perfectly ripe mango by texture (slightly soft) and scent (ambrosial aroma emanating from the stem) you’ll no doubt want instant gratification. But be forewarned, the mango can be a tease that doesn’t expose its succulent flesh easily! You must take your time when cutting into it with a sharp knife because the fruit quickly becomes unwieldy and slippery. Your best bet is to use a vegetable peeler, and then handle one exposed side with a paper towel while removing the pit and then cutting the flesh into pieces. 왘 34
Top photo by Olga Lupol. Bottom photo by Glenn Jenkinson