The KING of mangoes is the Alfonso. India is the world's largest mango producing country and there are over 1000 varieties, however they were banned from entering the US due to weevil until this June 07 where the entire lot was sold out at $35 for a dozen in 3 hours on both coasts. The crowds and press was unbelievable. So trust me when I tell you that you don't know what a mango tastes like until you have eaten THE Alfonso followed by Langra, Dussehra and so many others. Keep your eye out for Indian mangoes in June 2008. And for those who are allergic to the sap, here is an old wives tale that works for me. Drink milk/yogurt before biting into that mango and you won't break out.

Glenn, Mallika, Edwards, Carrie, Kent, Keitt, Nam Doc Mai, Prahm Kai Meu, Valencia Pride, Bailey's Marvel, Florigon, Julie. Others which I understand are great are Cushman, Graham, Dot, many others. My favorite is any good quality one which was picked ripe sitting right in front of me. I have 18 varieties, most too small for production still. My understanding of Indian mangos is they have a 'bigger' mango taste than the Florida varieties, which would appeal to some people more than others. I find I like the somewhat 'medium' richness and mild ones, but they certainly must be sweet. Mango taste is subjective as always. Love fresh mangos!

Gary

I just have one small Mango tree 'Carrie', but I love it! The tree looks beautiful and the fruit is delicious. I let it ripen on the tree, the fruit is huge with orange colored flesh, a thin small seed and no fiber, very juicy and sweet.

Evelyn

I'm personally very excited that the Indian mangoes are on their way. And that description made me even more so...I like a "big" mango taste.

I don't know about you guys, but my Kents have a FULL mango taste that jumps right up and smacks ya in the mouth! Full body, no strings and juicy and all. I say, bring on the Indians.

I love my hayden. I know there are some that taste almost as good with less fiber but I love my hayden. Never heard of Indian mango's.

I love the idea of a mango fest. I actually thought of doing some type of party around that theme but construction is still in full swing here. Maybe next year some of you would like to come over, I have a huge tree with lots of fruit to share.

What is your favorite thing to do with them? I finally got a brown betty type dish down pat. It is so good with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

One of my favorite things to do with them, there are sooooo many is to make a spicy mango sauce that I serve with fresh grilled fish (any fish will do). A close second is making a big batch of mango ice cream and giving it as gifts - people love it.

To our gardening cousins in California - TRUST US when we say, Florida mangoes DO have flavor!

Just enjoyed our first ripe "Julie" Mango from our own tree. I had picked one last week, because PI says they ripen June/July. Well, it was still solid green, felt hard, and I was about to toss it tonight, but I cut into it instead. To my surprise, it was ripe.

It had a very strong, Peach-like flavor, was fiberous, but not annoyingly so. The flesh was dryer than many Mangos, so it wasn't as messy to cut up.

A tasty fruit, but the lack of any indication of ripeness is a pain!

Lisa

Aftering tasting the multiple varieties at Treefrogs place and my own Nam Doc Mai and Glen. I have decided to plant a Glen at my new place. I like really sweet creamy fruits. I probably wouldn't like the hard core mango taste. The Glen had a hint of peach flavor. It was yummy and it is disease resistant. I had to spray the Nam Doc Mai that is right next it.

Favorite---mine! lol Because I have fresh hand picked fruit from my own garden. I have no idea what it is, I bought it years ago when I didn't know there were so many mangos. I had a bumper crop this year and loving every minute of it.

Hmmm, Lady, please share the brown betty recipe. ;o)

Lady, your Haden evolved from Indian mangos.

Lisa, perhaps the Julie still wasn't absolutely fully ripe. It should have give to a gentle squeeze. Should not be dry, would have some fiber.

I tasted about 8 varieties at our club's tasting table last night, including Julie, it was great. The Glenn's were particularly good last night. One was clearly not as good as the others, since Tommy Atkins was in the bunch, that was probably it.

Tampaart, Florida mangos of course have great flavor, which I understand is (in general) milder than most Indian mango varieties. Having a strong taste isn't necessary desirable, but it varies to each palate. The taste aspect if you wanted to find it in its strongest sense would perhaps be a turpentine mango. Do we want that full mango taste? Maybe not. I'm sure India, which has cultivated mangos for thousands of years before our country existed has mild, strong, and everything in between. The Florida strain of mangos evolved from Mulgoba and Turpentine mangos from India. One seedling which seemed desirable was chosen by someone named 'Hayden'. Many chance seedlings of Hayden became some of the very best mangos in the world.

Gary

Gary, no need to defend the "honor" of the Indian mango - I LOVE THEM ALL - just hometown (Miami) fan of the Florida mango (birthplace of the Kent - Coconut Grove). As a retired Navy Chief who has been to Indian a few times, IMHO I still enjoy the Florida ones the best.

And I wouldn't consider the turpentine mango to have a mango flavor - more like a ahhhhh turpentine flavor (ergo the name).

Smiling, it's all fun and good when you get to eat your fresh home-grown mangoes from your backyard or better yet a friend shares theirs with you!

Katkin's mangoes are excellent!
She was generous enough to give me a bag full last Sunday, which are ripening daily.
I'm in mango heaven this week.
I believe they are Haden, Kathy, judging by the ripe color, size and taste. A slightly educated guess at best.
Thank you so much!

It really is hard to argue with a ripe Hayden. They are beautiful, smell wonderful, and taste as good as they smell. It's a flavor that takes me back, because it was my father's favorite.

We planted a Julie mango a few years ago but have not had any fruit from it yet (they fell off when they started to form this year). We had a Kent about 5 years ago but put it in an unprotected spot (covered it in the winter) and lost it the first winter. The Julie is smaller(easier to cover) and in a sheltered location.

How have those of you in Zone 9 managed to get them thru the first few winters? They are so sensitive to any cold. I would love to plant another tree.

Gabriele

Do any of you use Mango's in Chutney's and Salsa?? I like using Chutney and Sasla for Fish, Chicken and Steak.

Tropcialfreak

I like this better than ketchup.
Into a blender put
1 ripe mango (chopped)
splash of vinegar (1/2 ounce)
a glug of white wine (1/8 cup)
1 Tablespoon minced fresh ginger (or 1 tsp powder)
Dash cinnamon, pinch allspice, pinch powdered cloves
Puree and put into a saucepan.
Add 1/8 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
Bring to almost boiling, then simmer til thick (45 min-1 hr)
Push mixture through a fine strainer
Allow to develop full flavor in the fridge for 24 hours.

Actually it shouldn't take 45 minutes of simmering.
I was making 3 times that much when I made some last year.
Watch it closely so it doesn't burn, stirring often. Til thick enough.

What do you all think is the best dwarf, non-fibrous variety. I want to plant a mango tree, but I don't want it to as big as some of the trees I've see around here.

Evak, Pine Island Nursery has a good list of "Condo" Mango varieties, with descriptions/sizes.

I bought all small varieties, that can be kept under 10'. That gives you options to have MORE of them(G), to extend the season.

Some of them have small fruits, like the Julie, and others have large, plump fruits.

Mangos and Peaches are our 2 favorite fruits. Mmmmmmm.. But Mulberries and Blueberries and Bananas and Sugar Apples are terrific too!

Lisa

Here is a link that might be useful: Mango viewer

I am eating a hayden off my tree everyday now " sigh" :)

Knowing that I like a very strong flavored mango.....which one should I buy next ?

I was going to say if I had to guess at mine, somehow Haden sounded familiar. We do prune the tree most years to keep it smaller. :o)

D'Ann,
What's wrong with your Haden?
The ones I'm eating are just fine.
If they're still firm they have that sweet and tangy taste.
When very ripe they're very sweet.
A little fiber to them, but I don't mind.
One of my neighbors has been giving me some small ones that are SO sweet, but totally fiber. Can't even cut 'em. Very juicy. Don't know the variety.
I think they all taste different, depending on when they're picked and how ripe you let 'em get.
I've been wondering what everybody means about "strong mango flavor". Wild and turpentiny, sweet, tangy? What exactly is this strong flavor?
I seem to like 'em all.

I really like Kent and Keitt, really smooth texture and good rich flavor.
And that Zinc was really good too, if not a bit cloyingly sweet and too juicy.
Florigon was excellent, and really preferred by many at the mango tasting.

I'm just happy it's mango season!

David,

there is nothing wrong with my mango !

I just want MORE TREES ! :)

I have a little woodpecker that has poked holes in a few of them.......I just cut that part out.

David, I meant to say I am glad you enjoyed the mangoes. :o)I made sorbet out of some. I may have to try your mango sauce too and Lady's brown Betty.

TF, could you have meant Zill instead of Zinc? I've had Zill, they're a good mango. What I mean about the strong taste in its strongest form is probably turpentine like. Its in most mangos in varying degrees, some find that objectionable, some don't. That one which couldn't be cut was probably a seedling of an Indian variety, which often are inferior to its parent.

One dwarf (somewhat) I'd highly recommend is a Mallika.

Gary

Gary, the "Zinc" is a cross betwen a Zill and an Indo-Chinese Mango. We tasted one at the Mango nursery in Boynton, and it was superb, but so juicy that it must be eaten outdoors or over a sink.

I have a Mallika. Can hardly wait to taste the fruits. Hopefully next year..

Lisa

When I say "Strong mango flavor" I mean that part of the taste/smell (Mostly smell, I'm sure) that makes the fruit NOT peach or papaya. The "Mango-nes" of it. Some people like their fruit to have a hint of that distinctness, and also tend to like to eat their fruit on the green side.

Ambersky,
I with you ! I think the mango must ripen on the tree for my taste !

I tasted the duncan.....found it to be too bland for me. But if I had the tree....and pick it when it just right.........maybe I would like it ...... ?

I still want another tree . I have the nam doc mai , but nevertasted it. I just trusted Lisa ! Going to keep it small !

Baileys marvel was great at treefrogs last get together. I also like the Carrie ( and it can stay small )

But the Florigon fruiting in May , and the choc anon fruiting 2x a year has gotten my attention ! I just want to taste them first.

I am also looking at Dot / cushman/ cogshell.

I had a relative that planted 5 Hayden trees back in the early 30 s......... so every summer I had my fill LOL

P.S. Lisa , thanks for the link............todays my day off from work, ate TWO mango for lunch !

D`Ann

D'Ann,

Keitt ripens from August through October according to Pine Island. And it's a wonderful one.
And Florigon ripening May-June.
Choc Anon I had never heard of, but if you can have ripe mangoes in January, wow, you've got the year covered!
And you already have a Haden and a Nam Doc Mai.
I won't need to grow any.
Put me down for an annual subscription when the orchard's up and producing.

Wanna trade for some starfruits? They're almost ripe.

Thanks Lisa, that's a totally new mango var for me. I don't mind fruit juicy like that, that's how my peaches are, and they're great.

Gary

Four years ago I encouraged my neighbor to plant a mango tree in his backyard. This year, he finally had a good size crop and I volunteered to spray copper and help them along. Smiling, yesterday (with his permission) I picked the first ripened fruit, chilled it for about an hour and then served it with a home-made vanilla ice cream.

In one word: Delicious!

Guess which variety? I was also surprised!

Edwards no less (it was like butter).

Kent is still my favorite - but I've grown a greater appreciation for the Edwards (downright yummy).

Edwards is widely considered one of the best. Kents are certainly great mangos, but if you had people who tried lots of mango varieties list their favorites, Edwards would be listed quite a bit. I think its reputed to be an offspring of Haden and Carabao (from the Philippines), but when it was tested for DNA, I don't think the carabao shows up. Can't remember if something instead of it did.

Gary

Gary,

I'm impressed with your knowledge of mangoes - thanks for adding to this great forum. I constantly learn something new every day.

TampaArt

I love them all. Which one grows best in Zone 9, Florida? I need to plant some.

Are you in Floridana Beach, Brevard? Any should work if there generally.

Gary

Comments
#1 Hayden - Keep covered in copper.

#2 Glenn - Easy to grow with tons of fruit.
#2 Dot  Has a spicy tropical mango taste...excellent...fruits June-August!

#4 Cushman Huge mango great taste with no fiber. Shy producer.
#4 Choc anon Great sweet taste...excellent...Fast grower...Planted 9 months ago with one head. It is now 6Â tall. I Just picked the last of the 8 mangoes that it produced. (Had 2 on ChristmasÂhow cool was that?) Impressive!

#6 Kent - Great taste for a late mango.
#6 Florigon  Excellent, but mine is growing s l o w.
#6 Julie  Tastes somewhat like a Hayden. Very slow growing and can be easily burnt by fertilizer. Fertilize cautiously.

#9 Keitt  A good late mango.

#10 Mallika  Picked them 3 weeks early, 2 weeks early and 1 week early and I had ½ good ones and ½ not so good onesÂBeautiful tree!

But hay, IÂve never had an EdwardsÂ

OK, you've caught my attention with ripe mangoes for Christmas!
Choc anon is now on my must have list.

Had you tried any Mallikas picked fully ripe (despite what tropicalfruitnursery.com says)? I have and they were great. Its good to hear more good about Dot, my tree is in poor shape though. ChocAnon and Florigon are both asian, which means better disease resistance too. The Julie I tasted was fantastic, coconutty.

Gary

Okay...
I went to a Mango festival with the intent on purchasing a tree. I tasted many mangos and the Carrie was absolutely the most delicious. I purchased the tree on the spot and am still waiting for the first fruit. The Carrie is a dwarf tree, very resistant to disease. The fruit is fiberless, therefore one should not let the fruit fall (bruises easily). Without a doubt one of the top tasting mangos in existance!!!

Okay...
I went to a Mango festival with the intent on purchasing a tree. I tasted many mangos and the Carrie was absolutely the most delicious. I purchased the tree on the spot and am still waiting for the first fruit. The Carrie is a dwarf tree, very resistant to disease. The fruit is fiberless, therefore one should not let the fruit fall (bruises easily). Without a doubt one of the top tasting mangos in existance!!!

For taste IMHO on a 1-10 scale. All Mangos need to be properly ripened to rate them properly. Unless you have actually grown a variety it's hard to always judge them accurately or fairly based on just what you might have had at a Mango tasting festival or one your neighbor gave you. Just a couple of days over/under ripe can greatly effect the flavor and your opinion of a certain variety (i.e. Carrie)

Carrie - 9 - Incredibly indulgent & decadent flavor when ripened to perfection. Possible slight piney aftertaste otherwise. Like crack for Mango lovers. Best picked a week early & ripened off the tree like Mallika and many varieties.

Valencia Pride - 7 3/4 - Very good sweet Haden type standard Mango flavor but with no objectionable fiber but much larger & you'll still be picking Mango's later into September

Keitt - 7 Rating based on Mexican store bought. Very food flavor for a store bought. Presumably home grown would be better. Mild slight "pineapple" type flavor. Occasionally detect a hint of Pina Colada aftertaste. Biggest perk is it gives you Mangoes in October when the other varieties are done. Like other Haden cousins the flavor is similar to Haden & many of it's offspring.

Tommy Atkins - 3. As the most common Mango found in stores for many people this is all they have ever tasted in their life - which is tragic as it's not very good.

Edwards - 10?? I "presume" to be the best based on everything I have read about Mango's over the last 10 years. I have regrettably yet to taste one.

I admit I do not know one mango from another and buy whatever is on sale at the store. Now that I am no longer in mango country, I guess I never will know, as I don't intend to travel to S. FL for a mango festival anytime in this lifetime.

Have only been growing & eating these unreal fruits for the last 16 yrs. That I know, doesn't make me an expert, but I have sampled many and IMHO, there are three ( 3 ) that definitely stand out.

Numero Uno : The Kent,..bar none, hands down the best tasting mango I ever ate, - also a large sturdy tree,...was so tough it was instrumental in diffusing those tornado winds that blew thru here last January. Delicious fruit and a large, tough tree,... what else could you ask for ? Will always have a Kent tree on my property,..even if I am 90 yrs old and can maintain only one,,..that tree will be a Kent ! ( smile )

Numero Dos : A tie between Glenn and Valencia Pride. Try 'em, you'll like 'em ! lol

Numero Tres :The Carrie, but now we're sliding down a bit so will limit my best choices to just those four,.. have all them trees in my backyard " plantation " now,..except the Valencia Pride. The VP just got too big, too fast, - after the 6 yr old tree got to 25 + ft, started noticing a few small drones buzzing it once in awhile,..so had to cut it down 5 mos ago ! ( smile )

The best mango I've ever had was a Dot. It was a symphony of eating delight. The first taste to hit me was the fruity sweet mango taste, then that receded into tiny bursts of tartness. The finale was the piney mango taste. Really, I'm not exaggerating. It was that good. The flavors came in waves. I've had other other Dots since then, but they were "merely" excellent.

I haven't tasted every mango variety, but of the ones I've tasted I really liked :

-Lemon Meringue (PPK)

-Dot

-Pickering

-Sweet Tart

-Glenn

There are a lot of others I've tried that are very good. Most of the Florida grown mangoes I've tasted are a lot better than the imported grocery store mangoes. Even Tommy Adkins mangoes taste fairly good properly ripened, but the strings are annoying.

@amber - Edward seems to at the top of most people's list who have sampled a lot of varieties.

Carrie is the best I've had, but you have to get them at their peak or they have a piney aftertaste which I think subtracts from the flavor.

I have heard Lemon Zest & Orange Sherbert is even better than Lemon Meringue (the parent) and Coconut Cream is supposed to trump Pickering or any of the other Coconut flavored ones.

I assume Kent, Glenn, VP and many of the other "Haden seedling types" that have the standard traditional Florida Mango flavor are similar enough most people would only want one if space is an issue, unless they come in at a different time.

Sweet Tart I have heard of, but you're the first one I know of that's tried it. What does ST taste like?

The Sweet Tarts I've had didn't taste super tart. The tartness is balanced with a lot of sweetness like a sweet tart candy. I actually understand why they came up with the name because it also had a fine grainy texture like when the sugar of a sweet tart dissolves in your mouth. They were very flavorful, but I didn't taste any unusual complicated flavors of coconut, pine, pineapple, orange, etc...

Lemon Meringue really does have a lemon taste if you let it get full ripe. I'm not a lemon pie person, so I'd compare it to lemon pudding. There's a creamy lemon flavor, but no lemon tartness.

I've never had an Edward. I had some Carries once. I thought they were ok, but I think I left them in the car too long because there was a stinky papaya smell and a stinky papaya aftertaste. The texture was good. I'd like to have them less ripe. I don't mind that mango piney taste.

I remember Valencia Pride having a nice flavor that brings to mind orange juice, but it doesn't really taste like oranges. Maybe the name was playing tricks on me.

I had Glenn only once, but they left an impression. I tasted a distinct pineapple overtone. Maybe it was just a good year for them?

I had Kents and Keitts from the grocery store. They were ok to good. One tasted better than the other, but I don't remember which.

I haven't had the others you mentioned.

nighthawk ; Yes, I am very familiar with the tastes of the VP, Glenn and Kent. The Glenn was my very first tree, planted in my yard in Islamorada, Fla in the Upper Keys. I knew nothing back then, - bought and planted it at the strong suggestion of Armando, a Cuban immigrant gardener working at Ray's Nursery in Homestead. Realizing I had a small lot and that it was my 1st tree, and most likely my only tree, he unhesitatingly recommended it. The Cuban's know their mango's, and I've been indebted to him ever since. If I met someone who could only plant one tree, I would strongly recommend a Glenn. It has it all, medium size, early season, scrumptiously delicious fruit with no fiber, and best of all, a fantastic producer. That tree has always out produced any of my other trees.

Then, after moving, I planted a Kent and fell in love with the taste. Taste is subjective I realize, but IMHO Kent has the best taste,....just a notch above a Glenn. Then planted a Valencia Pride & was amazed at the size and looks of the late season fruit. Seeing how big the fruits ( and tree ) were, I half expected the flavor to be not so hot. Boy was I wrong ! Surprisingly, it was absolutely delicious, again IMHO. Just a tad less delicious than a Glenn.

So there you have it, so far my top tasting three mango's, - am down to only 4 trees now. Besides the Glenn & Kent, I have a Tebow ( new tree, tasted a few, give it an 9.0 out of ten), and a Carrie, ( also a new tree, no fruits so far, jury is still out ). Had a Pickering in ground for 3 yrs, neither me nor most of my " favorite recipients " cared for them much. Not a bad taste but " no me gusta " as we say in Costa Rica ! lol

Just curious, where in 9b are you located ?

@Jofus - Am I wrong in assuming that Kent, VP & Glenn all have a similar in standard traditional "Haden type" flavor and don't differ that much from each other in being unique? I know VP has a standard traditional Haden type Mango flavor at least to me. i.e. If space is limited, 1 of those 3 is probably all you would want if flavor diversity/extended season was your primary goal right?

Your "9" rating of Tebow/Young is interesting. While PIN had it as a 5 star Mango some of the comments on GW about the flavor of it was that it wasn't very good. So would call T/Y a top tier "must have" mango?

I already have about 20 mature fruit trees and only have room for a few more. This is currently my Mango short list for varieities I may add next spring. The Edward & Keitt are probably locks.

1. *EDWARD - (May?) - Reports doing well in cold
2. *Keitt (October) Can get very large. May get sweeter later in season. Best/only very late variety

3. Maha Chinook (long season/varies) - slow growing/smallish?? When is the primary season? Asian flavor complex
4. Lemon Zest/Orange Sherbet - Orange Sherbet taste (which one is better?)/Medium size tree?? Simple flavor
5. *Coconut Cream - Simple flavor

6. Rosigold - (March) Good taste. Does bear early apparently - Size of tree?
7. Thai Everbearing - small, large seed, good taste - actually everbearing? - Size of tree?

Tks