The cheapest way to try real Alphonso from us is a small dozen (150-180 g fruit) at Rs 1,849. Cheaper still, but not Alphonso: Gir Kesar from Rs 999, or Alphonso pulp in an 850 g tin at Rs 590. We do not sell a smaller Alphonso trial pack than the dozen.
By Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in (operated by Powle Home Foods, Mumbai). Last updated 23 October 2026.
What is the cheapest way to try Alphonso?
Let me be straight about it. A trial pack of three or six mangoes is not something we list. The smallest Alphonso pack on the Ratnagiri and Devgad pages is one dozen. So 'affordable' here means the lowest-priced route into the fruit, not a mini box.
Why a dozen? Because we harvest to order and pack and ship against each order, and a courier journey with fresh fruit has fixed costs. A very small box would not make much sense for a perishable that travels semi-ripe. (We deliver free on every order, so the price you see is the whole price.)
Option by option: what you pay and what you get
| Option | Price | What you get | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Alphonso, 1 dozen | Rs 1,849 | 12 fruit, 150-180 g each, about 1.8 to 2.2 kg | Smaller fruit, same flavour |
| Medium Alphonso, 1 dozen | Rs 2,099 | 12 fruit, 180-220 g each | Rs 250 more for bigger fruit |
| Gir Kesar, 1.4-1.6 kg | Rs 999 | 4 to 6 fruit | Not Alphonso; a different mango |
| Alphonso pulp, 850 g tin | Rs 590 | Ready pulp, available all year | Not fresh fruit |
Details on the pages: Ratnagiri Alphonso, Devgad Alphonso, Gir Kesar and Alphonso pulp.
Is a small dozen a false economy?
No. Small Alphonso is the best-value way to taste the real thing. Sweetness follows ripeness, not weight. A fully ripe Alphonso sits in the high teens to low twenties on the Brix scale whether it weighs 160 g or 290 g.
Per kilo, the small dozen is roughly Rs 855 to Rs 1,030 (approximate, from declared weights), a touch higher than medium at about Rs 800 to Rs 970. So per kilo it is not the cheapest. It is the cheapest in rupees. Which matters more depends on whether you are testing or stocking up. For a test, you want the smallest cheque. That is the small dozen.
If even Rs 1,849 is more than you want to spend, Kesar at Rs 999 gets you a mango, but let's not pretend it is a Hapus trial. It is a different fruit with its own fans.
Making a trial order go further
- Share it. Split a dozen between two households and each pays about Rs 925.
- Use half as dessert fruit, half as aamras. Small fruit blends well.
- Order mid-season when grades and supply are at their widest.
- Don't add extras you won't use. Free delivery already covers shipping.
Worked example. Two friends split a small dozen: Rs 1,849 / 2 = Rs 924.50 each for six fruit, roughly 0.9 to 1.1 kg each. Compare that with one friend buying a medium dozen at Rs 2,099 for twelve. The split is cheaper per head and lets both of you test the fruit. The cost is that the fruit ripens together, so agree who eats what, and when.
What to judge in your trial
Four things.
- Aroma at the stalk end as it ripens. Sweet and strong.
- Flesh when cut: deep orange, silky, with little fibre.
- Balance: sweetness with a faint acid lift, and no flat sourness near the stone.
- Service: was the box tracked, was it intact, did the team reply fast?
Then decide on a bigger order. The season is usually February to June, with the 2027 season listed to start 1 February 2027. Check the product page for live dates.
Ripening and the carbide rule
Your trial fruit arrives semi-ripe. Lay it in a single layer at room temperature, in a ventilated spot, and check daily. Refrigerate only after it ripens and eat within a few days.
The cheap end of the market is where forced fruit lives. Calcium carbide is prohibited for ripening in India under Regulation 2.3.5 of the FSS (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. It releases acetylene and can carry arsenic and phosphorus impurities. FSSAI permits controlled ethylene up to 100 ppm; the current text is at fssai.gov.in. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally (on hay beds, as our FAQ states). White or grey powder in a carton, or flat sour flesh near the stone, are warning signs. The float test is only a clue.
How an order reaches you
Harvested to order, packed against it, shipped semi-ripe by BlueDart to serviceable PIN codes. Dispatch Monday to Saturday, with a 1 PM IST same-day cut-off. Delivery is free. Payment is prepaid only, no cash on delivery. You get tracking by email and WhatsApp. Check the box before signing and report damage within 24 hours with photos and your order number; see the return policy and shipping policy. Ready? Order Alphonso online.
Verified business details
- Powle Home Foods, No. 07, Bhave House, Kale Marg, Bail Bazar, Kurla West, Mumbai 400070.
- GI Authorised User AU/5974/GI/139/260 (Alphonso), AU/6932 (Devgad).
- FSSAI Central Licence 10020022011783 (FSSAI).
- APEDA registration 225579 (export).
- WhatsApp +91 70830 75556; support@alphonsomango.in (contact).
- Shipping, returns.
- Press; reviews.
Verify the GI, FSSAI and APEDA numbers on the official registers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest Alphonso pack you sell?
A small dozen (150-180 g fruit) at Rs 1,849 is the lowest-priced fresh Alphonso pack. We do not list packs smaller than a dozen.
Do you sell a 3 or 6 piece trial box?
No. The smallest Alphonso pack is one dozen. Splitting a dozen with a friend is the practical way to try fewer fruit.
Is Gir Kesar a good substitute?
It is a different mango, not an Alphonso. Kesar costs Rs 999 for 1.4-1.6 kg (4-6 fruit). It is nice, but it will not tell you what Hapus tastes like.
Does a small mango taste worse?
No. Taste follows ripeness. A ripe small Alphonso is as sweet as a ripe jumbo. You pay more per piece for large fruit, not for flavour.
Do you use carbide?
No. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally, on hay beds. Carbide is prohibited for ripening under FSSAI rules.
Is delivery included in the Rs 1,849?
Yes. Delivery is free on every order to serviceable PIN codes, with no packing or handling charge. Payment is prepaid only.
What if the trial fruit is not good?
Report a clear quality failure, damage or wrong item within 24 hours of delivery with photos or video and your order number. Normal ripening variation is not covered.
Sources and further reading
Related: Alphonso 1 kg price, Hapus price per dozen, Buy Alphonso online.