How to Eat Mangos

Mangifera indica. The common mango. First cultivated thousands of years ago in India, this royal fruit made its way around the world. It certainly made its way into our hearts as well. Even the hearts of people who would otherwise shy away from all things sweet and sticky. Read on the learn how to eat mangos!

They say money doesn’t grow on trees. That’s fine. Mangoes do. If I’m on a tropical island I’d rather have a handful of these anyway. Some are yellow, some are orange. Perhaps Aunt Edna gave you a green one for your birthday? Don’t eat it. It’s not ripe yet.

Mango trees can grow to over 100 feet tall. Amazingly, their roots can reach 20 feet into the earth. Mango trees over 300 years old can still bear fruit.

You can put ’em in a smoothie, or you can put ’em on a salad. Similarly, you can make a chutney with ’em. You can put ’em in the sun and dry ’em. Furthermore, you can put ’em on your granola. You can even pickle ’em with fish sauce and rice vinegar. If you’re in Andalusia, Spain you don’t even have to eat ’em. Just hold one in each hand and marvel at their local name. Huevos de Toro, “testicles of the bull”.

But some folks are happy just to sit on the beach and eat a fresh mango. That would be us.

Step by Step Guide: How to Eat Mangos

Here’s a quick tutorial on how to get jiggy with your mango, Zanzibari Hedgehog Style!

Okay, here we go! Choose your mango. Color varies by geographical location. If you are new to the area, you may need trial and error to figure out which color means “just ripe.” In order to test firmness, squeeze it in the same way that you would an avocado. Just a little soft is good. Smell it. If it smells like grass, it will taste like grass. If it smells fermented or clearly past its prime, move on.