Mango leaves are the glossy green leaves of the mango tree. Across India they are traditionally strung into torans for doorways at festivals and family occasions. This guide covers how to pick, store and use them, and where the mangoes we sell fit in.
What mango leaves are
Mango leaves grow on the mango tree, at the ends of new shoots. They are long, pointed and glossy, and they grow in clusters along the branches. The tree carries its leaves outside the fruit season as well, so the leaves are not tied to harvest dates.
New leaves are a bright reddish green when they open, and they darken as they mature. Pick only leaves that are whole and unmarked, and leave out any with holes, spots or insect damage.
Traditional uses of mango leaves
The most common use in India is the toran, a decoration hung across a doorway. A toran is made by threading fresh mango leaves onto a string or thread, often with marigold flowers, and it goes up for festivals, weddings and other family occasions. Many households hang one at the entrance as a sign of welcome.
Mango leaves also appear in puja and ceremony decoration. In many homes they are placed on a kalash, a pot used in worship, when a ritual is performed. The customs vary by family, region and occasion, so follow the practice your household already keeps.
How to pick and store mango leaves
Pick leaves from a clean tree, away from busy roads and dusty areas. Choose whole leaves free from spots, holes or insect damage. Take a few leaves from each branch rather than stripping it, so the tree is left in good shape.
Wash the leaves in cool water and dry them gently on a clean cloth. Keep them cool and out of direct sun until you use them. Fresh leaves wilt over time, so use them soon after picking, and do not leave them sealed in a bag in a warm room.
How to make a mango leaf toran
Gather enough leaves to fill the length of the string, and check that each one is clean. Pass a needle and thread through the base of each leaf, or pinch each leaf onto a thin cord, depending on what you have at home.
Space the leaves evenly so the toran hangs straight. Tie both ends to the frame of the doorway, and adjust the length before you tie the final knot. Replace the leaves when they start to wilt, because a fresh toran looks best for the whole occasion.
Preparing leaves for a festival
Pick a few more leaves than you think you need, because some will be damaged or wilt before the day. Keep the picked leaves in a cool place, out of direct sun, and make up the toran on the morning of the occasion. Leaves that are handled gently and kept cool hold their shape much better than leaves that are crushed in a hot bag.
Lay the strung leaves flat on a clean cloth before you hang them, so you can check each one. Remove any leaf that has a spot or a torn edge, and replace it with a fresh one from your spare pile. A toran with even spacing looks neat from the street and needs less adjusting later.
After the occasion
Once the occasion is over, take the leaves down and remove the thread. Keep the thread and any undamaged leaves aside if you want to reuse them. The spent leaves can go into your household compost or green waste, where local rules allow, rather than into general waste.
Do not leave a toran hanging for a long time in damp weather, because the leaves can go mouldy and spoil the look of the doorway. Take it down when the festival or ceremony ends, and store the thread somewhere dry for the next occasion.
Pairing decoration with fruit
Many households decorate the home and serve fruit at the same gathering. If that is your plan, decorate first and then order the fruit, so it arrives in time to ripen before you serve it. Fresh mangoes need a few days at room temperature to reach their best, and firm fruit should not go in the refrigerator while it is still ripening.
Our guide to selection, storage and ripening explains how to judge a mango by touch and smell, and how to cut it once it is ready. Read it before the occasion, so the fruit is in the right state when guests arrive.
Mango leaves and the fruit season
Leaves are on the tree all year, while the fruit has a season. Fresh Alphonso is harvested about February to June, and supply is best from March to May. The 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027. Outside the season fresh Alphonso is not sold, but the Alphonso Mango Pulp Tin is available all year in 850 g and 3.1 kg tins, from Rs 590.
We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally on hay beds. Harvest for all our Alphonso is done at Brahma Muhurta, the pre-dawn hours, and the fruit is dispatched by Blue Dart.
Where our mangoes come from
AlphonsoMango.in is run by Powle Home Foods, based in Mumbai. Our fruit is sourced across 55 villages in the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt on the Konkan coast. Ratnagiri is a district, and Devgad is a taluka in Sindhudurg district.
Our Ratnagiri Alphonso is covered by GI Authorised User certificate AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139), and our Devgad fruit is covered by certificate AU/6932. Our store sells mangoes and pulp, and you can see each mango product on the mangoes collection page.
A note on health
This page describes the traditional and decorative uses of mango leaves. We do not make health claims about mango leaves, and this guide does not give medical advice. If you plan to use any plant for a health purpose, speak to a qualified doctor first, especially if you take other medicines.
People also ask
What are mango leaves used for in India?
The most common use is the toran, a decoration of fresh leaves hung across a doorway for festivals, weddings and family occasions. Mango leaves also appear in puja decoration, where they are placed on a kalash, a pot used in worship. Customs vary by household and region, so follow the practice your family already keeps.
How do you make a mango leaf toran?
Gather clean, whole leaves, then pass a needle and thread through the base of each one. Space the leaves evenly along the string so the toran hangs straight. Tie both ends to the doorway frame, adjust the length, and replace the leaves once they begin to wilt.
How should I store mango leaves before use?
Wash the leaves in cool water and dry them gently on a clean cloth. Keep them cool and out of direct sun. Fresh leaves wilt over time, so use them soon after picking, and do not leave them sealed in a bag in a warm room.
Are mango leaves safe to use as medicine?
This page does not make health claims about mango leaves, and it does not give medical advice. If you are thinking of using any plant for a health purpose, speak to a qualified doctor first, especially if you take other medicines. A doctor can tell you what is suitable for your own situation.
When is the Alphonso mango season?
Fresh Alphonso is harvested about February to June, with supply best from March to May. The 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027. Outside the season fresh Alphonso is not sold, but our Alphonso pulp tins are available all year for shakes, desserts and kulfi.
Related searches
- Buy Alphonso mango online
- Ratnagiri Alphonso mango
- Devgad Alphonso mango
- Alphonso mango pulp tin
- Mangoes online
- Alphonso: The Jewel of Konkan
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia, Alphonso mango.
- Wikipedia, Konkan.
Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.