Tuesday, 14 May 2013

I'm in love with Alphonso


No, I haven't come out - it's the (short) season for Alphonso mangoes. If you have ever eaten one, no other mango will ever live up to it, but following the Indian Alphonso, a Pakistani one (called the 'Honey' mango in the UK) comes a close second - both in quality and season, just to let you down gently.

For about three weeks of the year, this Queen of the mangoes is flown around the world, cocooned in soft wrappers and boxed in colourfully decorated cardboard containers with little air-holes in the sides, as if they were some sort of beloved pet animals in transit.

Their texture is creamy, their colour impossible to represent, their perfume is heavenly and the taste is equally out-of-this-world.

One thing that I really miss from childhood is seasonal fruit. The 'first strawberry of the year' was a real event that marked the beginning of true summer, but now big, tasteless strawberries can be bought all year round and be served at Christmas time. The Alphonso retains it's seasonality, even though it has to be airfreighted in from another continent.

They do NOT make chutney out of the Alphonso.

It's also the time for another, brief seasonal food - goose-eggs!


24 comments:

  1. I am torn between evangelism and keeping a secret about Alphonso - sounds like a middle-aged holiday-romance with an Italian waiter...

    ReplyDelete
  2. If only.........
    I could see you more with Sean, a bit of rough from Bexley Heath

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you implying that it wouldn't be me wearing the trousers?

      Delete
    2. Humm perhaps with a little Chanel no 5 dabbed behind your ears?

      Delete
    3. I thought it was your knees you put behind your ears.

      Delete
  3. Alphonso sounds divine... I doubt if they're available here. Paris maybe; but not here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I doubt if the French agricultural lobby would allow them in, and you don't have as many Asians over there as we have here. Give it a try, though.

      Delete
  4. Just got me a couple of Alphonso's after your recommendation { that would be the fruit and NOT two Italian waiters ..... they don't sell Italian waiters in Waitrose yet !! } I hope that they are worth the £5.99 !!!! XXXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Try to get them from an Indian corner shop, where you can about 6 for the same price! You will like them, though.

      Delete
  5. I've never cared for mangoes much, but a friend of mine that visited California briefly informed me that it's because I've never had a good one. I would love the chance to try the Alphonsos!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Absolutely delicious! I have just had one for lunch along with some Reblochon cheese and oat biscuits.

    I presume you often have your oats at lunchtimeTom?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So you can get them in Ireland?

      Delete
    2. Mango Express: ships ripe-in-time, hand-picked Alphonso mangoes, to more than 50 countries world wide.

      Delete
    3. Bloody hell - that's really impressive, Red Ninja.

      Delete
  7. The Alphonso Mango is named after Afonso de Albuquerque.

    Doubting Thomas's or John's can check this out on WWW. or Wiki if they have a mind to :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Replies
    1. I am genuinely impressed with your knowledge of mangoes, Heron. Now I will not rest until I find out about who the hell Alfonso of Albuquerque was. Tonight's Googling project.

      Delete
    2. (Once I have worked out who Red Ninja is...)

      Delete