Alphonso mango: India’s tropical treasure

The Alphonso mango, often hailed as the “King of Mangoes”, is a tropical delight renowned for its rich taste, creamy texture, and captivating aroma. Native to the Konkan region of Maharashtra, this exquisite variety has a deep-rooted history dating back to the Portuguese era, when it was refined for international trade. Over the centuries, Alphonso has evolved into a symbol of India’s agricultural excellence, celebrated not only for its unparalleled flavor but also for its premium market appeal.

With rising global demand, exports of Alphonso mangoes have surged, particularly to the UAE, US, UK, and other premium markets. Beyond fresh fruit, value-added products such as purees, desserts, chutneys, and dried mango slices are expanding its commercial footprint. As consumer preference for premium-quality fruits grows, Alphonso continues to strengthen India’s global trade presence, cementing its reputation as one of the finest tropical fruits in the world.

The Alphonso mango is celebrated as the “King of Mangoes” due to its exceptional taste, aroma, and texture. This esteemed variety originates from the Konkan region of Maharashtra, particularly in the districts of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, where the unique climate and soil conditions contribute to its distinctive qualities.

• Flavour and Aroma: Alphonso mangoes are renowned for their rich, creamy, and non-fibrous pulp. They possess a unique sweetness accompanied by a delightful fragrance, making them highly sought after both domestically and internationally.
• Appearance: These mangoes typically weigh between 150 to 300 grams. As they ripen, their skin transforms into a golden-yellow hue with a characteristic blush of red on the top.
• Seasonality: The Alphonso mango is a seasonal fruit, harvested from mid-April through the end of June.

Locally known as Hafus, Alphonso mango is the most popular tropical fruit and a prized cultivar of the “Mangifera indica” species, revered for its exceptional flavor and aroma. Hailing from the coastal regions of western India, particularly the Konkan region, this fruit is rich, creamy, and delicately sweet.

The cultivation of this sweet and flavourful variety of mango is rooted in references found in the “Upanishads” and other sacred Hindu texts.

But this distinctive fruit has an interesting back story on its name, which honours Afonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese general and military strategist who established a colony in Goa in the early 16th century.

At the time, the mango had good flavour but a firm texture. Realizing its trade potential along the spice route, Aph sought to refine it for export to the King and Queen of Portugal, as the Konkan region had abundant “aam” production. Through extensive research, he developed a new variety by grafting it onto a Hafus tree, thus creating the King of Mangoes—Alphonso.

These mangoes had firmer, fleshy pulp and could withstand long sea voyages, making them ideal for trade. This led to global recognition of this variety, now celebrated as the world-famous King of Mangoes. Since then, Alphonso has been cultivated extensively in the Konkan region of Maharashtra and along the western sea coast of India.

Recognizing its unique regional identity and superior quality, the Alphonso mango from the Konkan region has been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This designation helps protect the authenticity of the fruit, ensuring that only mangoes grown in this specific region can be marketed under the Alphonso name.

By preserving traditional knowledge and enhancing market value, GI tags play a crucial role in “boosting local economies and ensuring global recognition” for indigenous products. Madhura Inamdar, Agripreneur and Merchant Indian Exporter, Yashaswi Mangoes and Fruits, comments,

“GI tag ensures that only mangoes from Ratnagiri get the Ratnagiri Alphonso label. It is preferred in countries like Japan, UAE, and EU for authenticity. It helps in getting the Cerificate of Organic and other Certificates with ease. Mangonet is also a supplementary certificate issued by Ministry of Agriculture GOM which supports this GI, and the certificate is issued to both producers and merchants of Ratnagiri Alphonso Mango.”

Significance of Geographical indication (GI Tag) in fruit crops:

1. It prevents unauthorized use of registered geographical indications by other states or location.
2. It provides legal protection to GI goods which boosts up export potential
3. It is an integral part of rural development that can effectively advance commercial and economic interests such as tradition and culture
4. It also boosts business clustering and rural integration on supply chain.
5. GI keeps eyes on quality, traceability and food safety of the products.

This fruit is recognised as the finest and most expensive variety of mangoes worldwide. Certain varieties of Hafus are also grown in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, particularly in Salem, but they lack the distinctive taste and juiciness of the Konkan Hafus.

Why Western Ghats?

Grown across the 200-kilometer Konkan coastline in “Devgad and Ratnagiri”, Alphonso mango, or “Hafus”, is renowned for its unparalleled taste, aroma, and texture. While many attempts have been made to cultivate Alphonso in different parts of India, the unique topography, soil composition, and climate of the Western Ghats make this region the ideal source for these premium mangoes.

The volcanic red soil of the Konkan coast, combined with a hot climate and adequate humidity, creates the perfect environment for Alphonso mango trees to thrive. This distinct coastal yet mineral-rich soil contributes to the fruit’s vibrant saffron-yellow color, delicate aroma, and signature sweetness. Unlike mangoes grown elsewhere, Hafus from Devgad and Ratnagiri has thin skin and thick, creamy pulp, making it juicier and more flavorful.

The region’s topography plays a crucial role in mango cultivation. The Western Ghats act as a natural shield, protecting orchards from extreme weather fluctuations while ensuring the right balance of rainfall and sunshine. The proximity to the Arabian Sea provides consistent humidity levels, which enhance the mango’s texture and sweetness.

Due to these ideal growing conditions, Devgad and Ratnagiri Hafus are considered the finest varieties, sought after in both domestic and international markets. The mango season, lasting from mid-April to June, sees a surge in exports, with these mangoes reaching consumers worldwide. The exceptional quality of Hafus ensures that it remains the undisputed “King of Mangoes”, celebrated for its rich taste and superior quality.

Export of Alphonso mangoes

The export of Alphonso mangoes from India follows a meticulous process to ensure they reach their destination in optimal condition. The key steps include:

1. Careful harvesting: Mangoes are hand-picked at peak ripeness to retain their flavor, aroma, and quality.
2. Quality control: Each fruit undergoes strict quality checks to eliminate any damaged or substandard produce, ensuring that only the finest mangoes are selected for export.
3. Protective packaging: The selected mangoes are carefully packed in specially designed ventilated crates or boxes that offer protection during transit. These boxes are labeled with essential details, including variety, grade, and place of origin and cushioned with protective materials such as foam or straw to prevent bruising or damage.
4. Efficient transportation: Once packed, the mangoes are transported to the nearest airport or seaport for shipment.
5. Regulatory compliance: The export process adheres to strict international regulations, requiring necessary certifications and permits to meet global quality, safety, and phytosanitary standards.

These measures ensure that Alphonso mangoes maintain their premium quality and freshness, making them highly sought-after in markets worldwide.

Major destinations for Indian mango exports include the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Kuwait, and Qatar. The UAE remains the largest importer, receiving over 15,000 metric tons of mangoes annually. The demand in the US has also grown significantly, with exports doubling year-on-year, particularly for popular varieties such as Alphonso and Kesar.

However, recent trends indicate a slight decline in mango exports due to multiple challenges. According to Inamdar, “the dip in mango exports during 2023-24 was primarily driven by supply chain and logistics disruptions. The Red Sea crisis forced a shift towards expensive air freight, rendering Indian mangoes less competitive despite their distinct aroma. Additionally, rising competition from countries such as Thailand, Japan, China, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Africa further impacted India’s market position.”

Beyond their cultural and geographical significance, Alphonso mangoes play a crucial role in India’s agricultural exports, contributing to economic growth and strengthening global trade relations. With a meticulous export process that ensures quality and compliance with international standards, these mangoes continue to gain popularity across key markets, including the UAE, the US, and the UK. With growth in food processing industry, a number of value added products are being developed and exported from Alphonso mango, including desserts, purees, chutneys, pickles, dehydrated mango slices, etc.

As consumer demand for premium-quality fruits rises, the Alphonso mango remains an unparalleled symbol of India’s rich agricultural heritage. Whether enjoyed domestically or relished overseas, this “King of Mangoes” continues to captivate palates, reinforcing its status as one of the world’s finest tropical delights.