Mango: History of its Origin

Mangos have been pleasing people’s senses of taste and smell with their amazing flavour and sweet aroma for thousands of years. Although it is one of the most popular and widely cultivated fruits around the world, most people don’t know about the origin of mango fruit.

Mango is an edible stone fruit that grows on the tropical tree Mangifera indica. This fruit comes in several hundred varieties throughout the whole world. Mango fruit can vary in size, texture, shape, taste, skin colour, and interior colour, which could be pale yellow, golden, green, or orange, depending on the cultivar. Mangoes are often used in a variety of cuisines. They are also used to make ice cream, smoothies, and drinks.

If you want to know about the history of this luscious fruit, read this article and you will find out about its origin, popularity, cultivation, and production.

Let’s have a look!

Origin of Mango:

Mango is the native fruit of South Asia and is believed to be first grown in India 5 millennia ago. However, scientific research and fossil evidence indicate its existence in India, Bangladesh, and Mayanmar even earlier i.e. 25 to 30 Million years back.

Moreover, It is believed that Buddha (the founder of the Buddhism religion) used to meditate under the shade of a mango tree, which is why this fruit is considered Sacred in India. Additionally, it is also referred to as “the food of God ” in the Hindu Scripture ‘Vedas’.

Know more about Pomegranate: A Significant Fruit Rich In History

Origin of the Name of Mango:

The earliest known name of mango is Amra-Phal, which was later on translated as Aam-Kaay(in Tamil). With the passage of time, it was further modified because of the difference in accent and it became “Maamkaay”. The Malayali people called it “Manna”, which Portuguese modified as “manga”. While the Scientific/botanical name for Mango is “Mangifera Indica” which means “an Indian tree bearing mangos”.

Popularity:

Now how did mangos gain popularity all over the world? Well, that didn’t happen overnight.

With the spread of Buddhism, mangos were spread across South East Asia. Moreover, during the 10^th  century, Persians expanded the growth of mangos from Western Asia to East Africa. Afterwards, the mangos travelled all the way long to Brazil with Portuguese explorers in the 16^th century, from where it was introduced in Mexico and South America. In the early 19^th century, mangos were grown in Mexico. This fruit came into the US when it was grown in Florida in the 1830s. Now Florida is among the world’s largest mango cultivars, producing about 400 different varieties of mangos. South Florida is one of the major hubs of mangos in the United States.

Cultivation:

According to research, mangos are widely cultivated in tropical regions with temperatures ranging between 27 °C to 39°C, but they can also tolerate up to 48°C. Mango trees are grown 600 m above sea level. The most suitable type of soil for the growth of mango trees is deep and well-drained loam to sandy loam soil with a p^H of 5.5-7.5. You can grow a mango tree in two ways;

1. Directly plant a mango seed, but this is time taking. Through this process, your tree can fruit within 5-8 years.
2. Plant the mango tree which is already grown in the nursery. This will only take 3-4 years to fruit.

Generally, the wet/humid season or the beginning of the summer is the best time to plant a mango tree.

Read more: 10 Miraculous Health Benefits of Mango Fruit

Production:

According to the 2010 FAO (food and agriculture organization of UN), India is the world’s largest producer of many fresh fruits. Additionally, more than 54% of the world’s total mango production happens in India alone. China ranks 2^nd among the world’s largest mango-producing countries. In international trade India accounts for less than 1% of mango export, it consumes most of its production inside the country.

Apart from India and China, there are more than 87 countries that produce mango. The most prominent among them are Mexico, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Florida, and the Philippines.

According to statista.com, mango ranks sixth in global fruit production in the year 2019 with a production of 55.85 million Metric tons.

Learn about the 10 Best Varieties of Mangoes in the World

Conclusion:

The history of the origin of mango shows that it is one of the oldest fruits in the world. Historical reports tell some interesting beliefs about the mangos, like, it is a symbol of love and its leaves bring good luck to the homes. Despite the fact that the mango has become a common fruit, its history shows that it has always been the King of fruits. It always remained significant in religion, art, culture, and literature.

Did you find the information in this article helpful? I’d love to know what you think.