Why is Mango The King of Fruits? Know The Secret

Have you ever wondered why is mango called the king of fruits? Well, this is a question worth asking.

Check- out this article and you will find the right answer to your question.

Many people believe that mango is called the king of fruits because of its wonderful nutritional content and health benefits. But it’s not the only nutritious fruit, rather there are so many other fruits or should I say all fruits are full of nutrients. So what makes mango a royal fruit?

The Secret Behind the King of Fruits:

The secret behind the mango being the king of all fruits is that it is loved by the Emperors and the Kings. Likewise, it is praised by the poets, used in art, and considered sacred in some religions and cultures (esp. Indian). Furthermore, this fruit is seen as a symbol of love, prosperity, and good luck.

In fact, mango is the most loved fruit across the world because of its flavourful, juicy and mouth-watering taste. The harvest season of mango (April – August) is the long-awaited season for mango lovers.

Learn about the 10 Best Varieties of Mangoes in the World

Mango- The King of Fruits:

Mango is the national fruit of Pakistan and India, while its tree is the national tree of Bangladesh. India is the largest producer of mango. More than half of the world’s total mango production is from India.

Interestingly, the origin of mango dates back about 5000 years. It originated in India and then spread into the whole world with the passage of time. This luscious fruit has a significant place in Indian culture, religion, literature, poetry and art.

There are several different cultivars of mango across the world. According to agriculturists, there are about 1500 varieties of mango grown in India only. “Alphonso” is the best and most in-demand variety across the world. It is known as the “king of mangoes” because of its amazing fragrance, taste, colour and texture.

MANGO AS A SACRED FRUIT:

Mango is considered a sacred fruit in Buddhism because it is believed that Buddha used to meditate under the shade of the mango tree. Moreover, in Hinduism, it is regarded as the ” food of God.”

In addition, this royal fruit is considered a symbol of love in India, while its leaves are believed to bring good luck to homes. Especially during celebrations/weddings, mango leaves are strung up in front of homes.

MANGO AS A HISTORICAL FRUIT:

Historically, mango is a significant fruit. One of the reasons that mango got the title of “the king of fruits” is that its history is associated with popular historical figures. For instance, Ashoka (the Mauryan Emperor) mentioned the mango tree in one of his famous pillar edicts. He wrote that;

“On the roads, banyan trees were planted by me, in order to provide shade to cattle and men, and mango groves were planted as well.”

Similarly, in the history of the Sub-Continent, you can find that Mughal emperors were the most ardent lovers of mango. Babur (the founder of the Mughal Empire) praised mangos in his book Baburnama. Mughals’ fascination for mangos resulted in the cultivation of thousands of mango varieties. It is said that the emperor Akbar planted 100,000 trees of mango. Besides, reports tell that Shah Jahan arrested his own son Aurangzeb for stockpiling mangoes. Interestingly, it was also the Mughals who started using mangos in food recipes.

“Chaunsa” or “Chausa”, is the famous variety of mango from Pakistan. It is believed that this variety of mango was named by Sher Shah Suri- a tremendous Muslim warrior/general and the founder of the Suri empire in the Indian Sub-Continent. He defeated a Mughal emperor Humayun at a place called “Chuasa”. He brought this variety of mango to the Sub-Continent and named it after the place of his victory against the Mughals.

Chuansa is the most famous and favourite mango variety in Pakistan. Its largest cultivars are present in Multan and Rahim Yar Khan. It is best known for its sweet juicy taste, strong fragrance and a golden-yellow colour.

Read more: 7 Essential Nutrients In Mango That Are Good For Your Health

MANGO IN POETRY AND LITERATURE:

Mango is the king of fruits in poetry as well because it is praised by some famous poets. The great Urdu poet “Mirza Ghalib” is known for his extreme fondness for mangoes. His love for mango was his weakness.

Mirza Ghalib wrote a poem “Dar Sifat-e- Ambah” (In praise of mango) in which he glorified the fruit too much. He also wrote a letter in which he exalted the mango and its creator.

There is a famous anecdote about Ghalib that once his friend asked him about the qualities of mangoes. So he replied that ‘ In my opinion mangos should have two qualities; they should be sweet and should be available in abundance.’

In addition, an iconic figure and a well-known Indo-Persian poet ‘Amir khusrau’ entitled this king of the fruits “Naghza Tarin Mewa Hindustan” which means “the fairest fruit of Hindustan”.

MANGO IN ART:

Another reason that makes mango the king of fruits is that it is the only fruit that has a significant place in art and design. In fact, historical reports show that numerous artists and designers from the past adopted mango design in their art.

The famous paisley pattern in India is inspired by the shape of a mango. This Pattern is used in Lucknow and Kashmiri embroidery. These mango-inspired paisley patterns are also used in block printing, wall arts, paintings and many other forms of art.

Learn: 5 Quick and Interesting Ways to Cut a Mango

CONCLUSION:

To sum up, mango is the king of all fruits, not because of its nutritional value or health benefits, but because of its unique significance in religion, culture, history, art and literature. Similarly, it is referred to as the royal fruit because of its distinctive flavour and delicious taste. This fruit is in fact the most amazing gift of nature. It deserves this title!

Did you find the right answer to your question? Let me know in the comments section.