This is a guide about mangoes! The guide offers some interesting information about mangoes, as well as photos of them and a list of resources on where to find further information about this delicious tropical fruit.

Pictures of Mangoes:

Here are a couple of pictures of mangoes growing on a mango tree. These 2 photographs were taken in Hawaii, on the Island of Oahu. It is common to see mango trees growing there; many people have them in their yards! Mangoes also grow in other locations like India, Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa, The Caribbean, South America, and Central America, and in other North American locations as well.

Mangoes are gorgeous to look at; they can vary in color, but most commonly they are different shades of greens, reds, pinks, peachy/golden oranges, and yellows.

They are also delicious to eat. The fruit tends to be sweet and very juicy! Occasionally you might get a mango that's slightly sour. I have also noticed that the fruit closest to the pit can be a little sour; I love it because it's both sour and sweet at the same time. Yum!

How To Tell if a Mango is Ripe

A ripe mango should not be rock hard; it will usually be slightly soft to the touch, yet not so soft as to be mushy. Look at the mango carefully to make sure that it is really ripe and not just bruised. A ripe mango will often look pinkish or reddish or orangy-yellow-ish, but you can't definitively tell from the color if the mango is ripe or not. Sniff the mango- does it smell sweet and fruity? That's a better indicator of ripeness than color is.

Don't worry if you get a totally firm green mango because it can still ripen. You will have to store it in a cool dark place, not your refridgerator, in order for it to ripen. I recommend that you gently place it inside a paper bag, and then put it inside one of your kitchen cabinets. Check on it after a couple of days to see if it is ripe and if it is, then you can put it in the fridge or eat it right away.

The Best Ways To Cut And Eat A Mango:

It is easy to make a real mess with a mango if you don't know the easiest ways to cut into it. (Actually it's easy to make a mess even if you do know the best ways to cut it.) Be sure to put the mango on a plate before you cut it, because it is very likely that maango juice will get all over the place.



Mangoes have oblong pits in their centers. The best way to cut a mango is lengthwise, slightly to the side of center on each side, so that you cut around the pit. Then once you have done that, you can either slice the mango halves into wedges or else cut them into small cubes and then turn the peel inside out and detach the cubes from the peel.



Now you can either eat it, or use it in a recipe.

Mango Drinks & Dishes:

Mango Smoothies

Ingredients:

1 Ripe Mango, cubed
1 Ripe Banana, peeled & cut up
1/2 Cup Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Cup Crushed Ice
Optional: 1-2 Teaspoons of Honey
Optional: Sprigs of Mint For Garnish

Instructions:

Combine All Ingredients in the blender and blend until the ingredients are smoothie-consistency. Pour into 2 tall glasses. Garnish with sprigs of mint. Drink and enjoy!

Support your fellow ebayers; many of them offer mango recipes for sale.

Some Interesting Books About Mangoes:

The Great Exotic Fruit Book : A Handbook of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits, With Recipes
by Norman Van Aken and John Harrisson.

The Great Mango Book
by Allen Susser; photographs by Greg Schneider

The Mongo Mango Cookbook : And Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mangoes
by Cynthia Thuma

Little Hawaiian Mango & Papaya Cookbook
by Joanne Fujita

Tropical Fruit
by Desmond Tate

I hope you have enjoyed this guide to mangoes! Bon Appetit!