Mangoes of Goa

Portuguese popularised mangoes from Goa. The land of mangoes is little known outside its area. But the history is still vivid about Goan contributions to the popularity of King of Fruits.

1. Dr.A.Prabaharan Research Director Public Action Mangoes of Goa 1

2. Nicolao Manucci in 1698 The Venetian adventurer, Nicolao Manucci wrote in detail about the Goan mangoes in 1698 In his book Storia Do Mogor , Manucci writes that the best mangoes grow in Goa He may be the first one to write in detail about the Goan mangoes which are still not in the limelight Manucci spent 64 years in travelling around South Asia He enjoyed tasting different food and fruits of South Asia 2 Dr.A.PRABAHARAN , RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PUBLIC ACTION

3. Storia Do Mogor 1698 “The best mangoes grow in Goa. These are divided into varieties, with special colour , scent and flavour . I have eaten many that had the taste of the peaches, plums, pears and apples of Europe. However many you eat of them, you still desire to eat more." 3 Dr.A.PRABAHARAN , RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PUBLIC ACTIO N

4. Mango Varieties - Manucci Manucci wrote about the following Goan mangoes Nicolau Afonso Carreira branca Carreira vermelha Parreira Babia Porta Secreta Mainato 4 Dr.A.PRABAHARAN , RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PUBLIC ACTION

5. Malgoa Corruption Malgoa , the famous mango from Goa’s name got corrupted to Malgoba One can see Goa in Malgoba Malgoba is one of the most popular varieties of mango grown in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Dr.A.PRABAHARAN, PUBLIC ACTION 5

6. Taj Fort Aguda Mango Festival Taj Fort Aguada Resort and Spa in Goa hosts a mango festival every year Some of its signature mango dishes are Totapuri mango shrikhand , Classic hung curd infused with mango flavor, king alphonso cheese cake which is a mango cheese cake filled with nuts and Alphonso angoori rabadi — soft cottage cheese dumplings in mango- flavoured rabadi . Dr.A.PRABAHARAN , RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PUBLIC ACTION 6

7. Akbar gets Goan Grafting The Jesuit Mission to Akbar’s court in 1579 in Agra trickled the taste buds of Mughal emperor to Goan mangoes This was a “Route to Damascus” moment for Goan mangoes After tasting Goan mangoes especially Alfonso, Emperor Akbar ordered grafting of mango trees This is how 1 lakh mango saplings were planted in Lakhibagh , Darbangha , Bihar Dr.A.PRABAHARAN , RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PUBLIC ACTION 7

8. Goa to Lakhibagh Grafting from Goa created the biggest mango orchard nearly five centuries ago in Lakhibagh , Darbhanga , Bihar Rataul , Langra , Dassheri , Chausa , Totapuri and hundreds of other coveted species got innovated . Dr.A.PRABAHARAN , RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PUBLIC ACTION 8

9. 17 th century global trade From 17 th century, Goan mangoes got fanned around the world The first bunch of Goan mango grafts and native cultivators were sent to Brazil Fernandinas , Afonsos and the Malgoa which later transformed into the Haden, Tommy Atkins and Kent mangoes These are grown and eaten in the Americas. The same species trailed through the Philippines to Mexico Mexico is now the world’s largest exporter of mangoes Dr.A.PRABAHARAN , RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PUBLIC ACTION 9

10. Hamilton in 1727 “the wholesomest and best tasting of any fruit in the world“, said the Scottish voyager Alexander Hamilton in 1727 about the Goan variety of Alfonso mangoes In Mangas De Goa  ( The Mangoes Of Goa ), the agriculturalist Fenando de Rego said that Jesuits “baptized" new mango species with the same zeal they renamed converts to Catholicism. Dr.A.PRABAHARAN , RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PUBLIC ACTION 10

11. Like a drop of honey!   Like a drop of honey / Soft as a bride’s lips / Our pride, our wealth / Is the Goan Mango . The late Konkani laureate Manoharrai Sardessai Dr.A.PRABAHARAN,RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PUBLIC ACTION 11

12. MANGO MAXIMUM GOA Mangoes are cultivated in 5000 ha of land in Goa M ango cultivation is the maximum among fruits in Goan lands There are about 10000 tons of mango produced every year Portugese are credited for varieties of mango cultivated in Goa https://www.goaholidayhomes.com/information/mangoes-of-goa.html Dr.A.PRABAHARAN, PUBLIC ACTION 12

13. MANKURAD – Poor Coloured Mankurad was named as Malcorado by Portuguese Malcorado in Portuguese mean “poor coloured ” It is also known as Goa Mankur , Kurad , Corado This is the most popular variety among Goan manoges Mankurad is also the costeliest mangoes sold from India Dr.A.PRABAHARAN , RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PUBLIC ACTION 13

14. MALGESH – Difficult to Digest Malgesh is also known as Malgesta , Malgessa , Malgueso and Malgess This variety is popular in North G oa Fruit colour , size and quality varies from place to place Malgesh in Portuguese mean “difficult to digest” Two types of Malgesh are found Khand Malgesh – A thick skinned inferior quality Akno Malgesh – A superior quality Dr.A.PRABAHARAN, PUBLIC ACTION 14

15. ULAS Ulas is tangy and not sweet mango Too many variations exists in Ulas Goans love Ulas very much Dr.A.PRABAHARAN, PUBLIC ACTION 15

16. Bishop - Mediocre The name Bishop for mango was inspired by the large belly of a bishop Other name is Bispo Bishop is not a popular variety of mango in Goa Bishop is sought only other mangoes become expensive It is a mediocre variety of mangoes in Goa Dr.A.PRABAHARAN, PUBLIC ACTION 16