Альфонсо: Король индийских манго и история его экспорта

Mango cultivar

The Alphonso mango, also called the hapus mango, is a named mango cultivar that originated in India.

The variety is named after Afonso de Albuquerque, a distinguished militarian and viceroy of Portuguese India from 1509 to 1515. In 1563, Garcia da Orta wrote of Alphonsos grown in Portuguese Bombay, which were to be presented to the governor (viceroy) in Goa. Alphonso is also one of the most expensive varieties of mango, and also grown in the Valsad and Navsari districts of South Gujarat.

The Alphonso mango is a seasonal fruit harvested from mid April through the end of June. The fruits generally weigh between , have a rich, creamy, tender texture and delicate, non fibrous, juicy pulp.

Mango sorbet, ice cream, lassi, soufflé, mousse, and puree are some culinary preparations using Alphonso mangoes.

The Alphonso is prized in domestic and international markets for its taste, fragrance and vibrant color.

An import ban imposed in 1989 by the United States on Indian mangoes, including the Alphonso, was lifted in April 2007. However, the mangoes needed to be treated before entering the country in order to stop the introduction of non native fruit flies, destructive fungi, and other pests that could harm American agriculture. The European Union imposed a ban beginning in April 2014 on import of mangoes after finding "non European fruit flies" in some consignments, creating a significant threat to UK salad crops. The Indian government had described this decision as arbitrary and businesses claimed they would suffer financial losses due to the ban. In January 2015, the European Commission lifted the ban following significant improvements in the Indian mango export system.