Mangoes: The King of Fruits

Pakistan's national fruit is the mango and summer in Pakistan is defined by the sights and sounds of vendors hawking piles of soft, sweet-smelling mangoes for at least six months. Known as the ‘King of Fruits,’ it is one of the most popular and best-loved fruits worldwide. Hundreds of varieties of mangoes are known to exist in Pakistan and scientists believe the sweet and fleshy orange fruit originated in the region before Buddhist monks and Persian traders introduced the plant to other areas of the world.
Mangoes have proven over time to be much more than basic fruit – they are a ‘super-fruit.’ The most consumed fresh fruit in the world they bring to mind exotic, tropical places where the sun creates this magical delicacy. You can eat a mango in a variety of ways - by squeezing the juice right from the fruit into your mouth through a cut at the top; by slicing, dicing and mixing it in with other fruit as a salad; making ice-cream or a dessert; mango milk shakes are yummy and mango pickles add a tangy delight to your food. The title ‘King of all fruits’ may well have been given to mangoes because according to research, they fight cancer, alkalize the body, aid in weight loss, regulate diabetes, help digestion, clean your skin and make the perfect snack!
Pakistan produces many varieties of mangoes. The most popular commercial varieties - all different in colors and sizes and each with a distinct flavor and taste - include Anwar Retol, Dasehri, Langra, Chaunsa, Sindhri, Saharni, Alphonso, Pairi, Fazli and Neelam. The first to appear early in the season is the 'Sindhri' and as the name suggests, it is grown in the province of Sindh which has a warm climate. According to some aficionados, Sindhri is the best of all varieties grown in Pakistan. It is large in size, beautiful in shape and superb in taste - a delicious mango, though all of the above mentioned are just as popular, depending on whether you like very sweet, slightly tart or a mixture of both tastes.
On an interesting aside, mangoes have been used in diplomacy and intrigue, with an exchange of the fruit taking place regularly between the leaders of Pakistan and India as well as locally between political entities and diplomats posted in Pakistan. When US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton offered Pakistan help in exporting mangoes to the US, some analysts claimed it was in a bid to dampen anti-American sentiment but I think she realised that Pakistani mangoes are the best in the world and Americans are missing out on this sumptuous treat!