Alphanso mango is a common spelling of Alphonso, also called Hapus or Aphoos. It is grown on the Konkan coast, mainly in Ratnagiri and Devgad, and harvested from about February to June. We sell Ratnagiri and Devgad Alphonso by the dozen.
What Alphanso mango means
Alphanso is simply another spelling of Alphonso, the best-known mango of western India. In Maharashtra it is called Hapus, and you will see Aphoos, Hafus and Alphanso on boxes, in shops and in search results. They all point to one variety. If you searched for alphanso mango, you are in the right place: this is the fruit we sell, and the page explains where it comes from and how to buy it.
The fruit is medium in size, and Alphonso fruits generally weigh 150 to 300 g. It has a thin skin that turns golden yellow with a hint of red or green near the shoulder as it ripens. The pulp is deep orange, smooth and almost free of fibre. The smell is the first thing people mention, a rich, sweet fragrance you can notice across the room.
Origin of the name and the fruit
The name is widely traced to Afonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese commander who governed Goa in the early 1500s. Portuguese settlers are credited with bringing grafting techniques to the region, and growers along the coast developed and kept the variety through grafts. Over the following centuries it spread through the Konkan, a narrow strip of land between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
The Konkan is known for laterite soil and a sea-facing climate. Growers and agricultural researchers often link those conditions to the fruit's character, though no single factor explains it. What we can say plainly is that the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt is where this mango has been grown for a long time and where its geographical indication applies.
The GI tag and our certificate
A Geographical Indication, or GI tag, protects the name of a product that is linked to a particular place. Alphonso from Ratnagiri and Devgad is registered under GI No. 139. In plain terms, it means that the name is tied to that growing area, and that only registered growers and authorised users may use the tag.
We hold a GI Authorised User certificate, AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139). You can see the details on our Brand Facts page. A certificate does not make a mango taste better, and it does not replace your own judgement when you open the box. It is a record that the seller is authorised to use the indication.
Ratnagiri and Devgad
Buyers often ask which Alphonso is better. Both are the same variety, grown in the same coastal belt. Ratnagiri is a district, and Devgad is a taluka in the neighbouring Sindhudurg district. We source from 48 villages across the belt and sell both under their own listings.
| Point | Ratnagiri Alphonso | Devgad Alphonso |
|---|---|---|
| Variety | Alphonso (Hapus) | Alphonso (Hapus) |
| Place | Ratnagiri district | Devgad taluka, Sindhudurg |
| GI | GI No. 139 | GI No. 139 |
| How we sell it | By the dozen, graded by size | By the dozen, graded by size |
| Product page | Ratnagiri Alphonso | Devgad Alphonso |
The honest advice is to choose by grade and budget, not by a belief that one origin always wins. A dozen weighs roughly 1.8 to 3.3 kg depending on grade, so compare the grade and the fruit count, not only the price of the box. If you want to see every option together, use the order Alphonso mango online page.
How to judge a real Alphonso
No single test proves authenticity, but a few clues are worth checking, whoever you buy from.
- Smell: ripe Alphonso has a strong, sweet aroma near the stem. A flat or sour smell is a warning sign.
- Skin: a natural golden-yellow, often uneven, with some green or red shading. A very uniform, bright yellow is a rough clue at best, not proof of anything.
- Feel: a ripe fruit gives slightly under gentle pressure, evenly all around, without soft or hard patches.
- Pulp: deep orange, smooth and low in fibre when cut.
- Paperwork: ask any seller for their GI details and food licence number. We list ours as a GI Authorised User certificate and as an FSSAI-licensed seller.
The bucket-of-water test that circulates online is only a rough clue, not proof of anything, so do not rely on it. Taste and aroma are better guides.
Hay-ripened vs carbide-ripened mangoes: what differs
| Point | Naturally ripened on hay beds | Ripened with calcium carbide |
|---|---|---|
| Ripening medium | Mature fruit is laid on hay beds and ripens by itself over several days. | Calcium carbide produces acetylene gas, which is used to force ripening. |
| Legality in India | Allowed. | Prohibited. Regulation 2.3.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 bars selling fruit ripened with acetylene (carbide) gas. |
| Skin colour (rough clue, not proof) | Often uneven: green, gold and a blush can sit together on one fruit. | Colour alone cannot show how a fruit was ripened; an even bright yellow skin is only a rough clue. |
| Aroma (rough clue, not proof) | A sweet fruity smell, strongest near the stalk, builds as the fruit ripens. | Aroma can be weak when ripening is forced; this is a rough clue only. |
| Taste and health note | Sweet with a little acidity, soft flesh. | The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (PIB, 18 May 2024) lists dizziness, irritation, difficulty in swallowing and vomiting among effects linked to carbide residues. |
No home test, including the water or bucket test, proves how a mango was ripened. Ask any seller how the fruit was ripened.
How we ripen it
Our Alphonso is harvested at Brahma Muhurta, the pre-dawn hours, and packed so that it ripens on its own. Our fruit is hand-harvested with a zela pole fitted with a catching net. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally on hay beds. The fruit is layered with dry hay, which cushions it and lets it ripen at its own pace. Fruit is packed on hay and finishes ripening at room temperature. Check the fruit on arrival and report any damage within 24 hours of delivery. Keep it out of the fridge until it smells sweet and gives slightly to a press, then refrigerate if you want to hold it for a day or two.
Eating and nutrition
Alphonso is eaten fresh, cut off the stone in cubes or sliced with a spoon, and it is the classic choice for aamras, mango lassi, milkshakes, kulfi and ice cream. A mango is mostly water and natural sugar. Raw mango pulp has roughly 60 kcal and about 36 mg of vitamin C per 100 g, plus some fibre and beta-carotene, according to standard food composition data. Values vary by ripeness.
Mango contains natural sugar, so portion size matters. If you have diabetes or another health condition, ask your doctor or dietitian how much suits you.
Season and how to buy
Alphonso is a seasonal fruit. It is harvested from about February to June, and supply is best from March to May. Our 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027. Outside the season we do not sell fresh Alphonso. Alphonso pulp tins are available all year if you want the flavour out of season.
You can choose Ratnagiri Alphonso or Devgad Alphonso, or browse the full mango collection. Delivery is by Blue Dart, and you can check your PIN code at checkout. We have served 47,000+ customers, including offline and marketplace sales, and we have been selling online since 2020.
People also ask
What is Alphanso mango?
Alphanso is a common spelling of Alphonso, the Hapus mango of western India. It is grown mainly in the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt of the Konkan coast, has a smooth, deep orange pulp with little fibre, and is harvested from about February to June. Alphonso from this belt carries GI No. 139.
Is Alphanso the same as Alphonso and Hapus?
Yes. Alphanso, Alphonso, Hapus, Hafus and Aphoos are different spellings and regional names for the same variety. The mango from Ratnagiri and Devgad is registered under GI No. 139. Differences you may notice between boxes usually come from grade, ripeness and handling, not from a different variety.
When is Alphanso mango season?
Alphonso is harvested from about February to June, with the best supply from March to May. Our 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027. Outside the season fresh Alphonso is not sold, though Alphonso pulp tins are available all year for aamras, milkshakes and desserts.
Which is better, Ratnagiri or Devgad Alphonso?
Both are the same Alphonso variety from the same coastal belt, so neither is simply better. Choose by grade, fruit size and budget. A dozen weighs roughly 1.8 to 3.3 kg depending on grade, so compare grade and count along with price. Check the product pages for current prices.
Related searches
- Ratnagiri Alphonso mango
- Devgad Alphonso mango
- Order Alphonso mango online
- Alphonso mango pulp
- All mangoes
- Brand Facts and GI details
- Iron in mango
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia, Alphonso mango, accessed October 2026.
- Geographical Indications Registry, India, Devgad Alphonso Mango record (merged with application 139), accessed October 2026.
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, Regulation 2.3.5, compendium version of 2 April 2025.
Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.