Mango is the national fruit of India because it has grown on the subcontinent for thousands of years, appears in ancient texts and art, marks festivals and weddings, and is farmed on a huge scale. India is also the largest mango producer in the world.
Mango is closely tied to the Indian summer. That everyday place in the kitchen is a large part of why the fruit holds national status. This page explains why mango is India's national fruit, how long it has been part of life here, which other countries claim it, and where the Alphonso fits in.
We are AlphonsoMango.in, run by Powle Home Foods in Mumbai, and we sell Alphonso from the Konkan coast. We are a fruit seller, not historians, so for the older history we rely on widely documented accounts and say plainly when a date is approximate.
Why is mango the national fruit of India?
No single reason explains it. The mango earned the place through a long overlap of farming, faith, food and trade.
- Age. The mango (Mangifera indica) is native to the Indian subcontinent and has been cultivated here for a very long time, commonly put at more than 4,000 years.
- Culture. The fruit and the leaf appear in Sanskrit literature, temple carvings, Buddhist tradition and Mughal-era records.
- Ritual. Mango leaves hang above doorways at weddings and festivals, and the leaf is part of the kalash used in puja.
- Food. It is eaten raw, ripe, pressed into pulp, pickled and dried, from aamras at home to chutney and drinks.
- Farming. India is the world's largest mango producer and grows a very large number of named varieties.
A short history of mango in India
The mango is believed to have originated in the region spanning north-eastern India and neighbouring parts of Asia. From there it spread across the subcontinent, and traders and travellers carried it to other warm regions. References to the tree in ancient Sanskrit texts are well known, and old stories describe the tree as a symbol of prosperity.
Two stories are often told. The Buddha is traditionally said to have been given a mango grove for rest and teaching. The Mughal emperor Akbar is recorded as planting a very large mango orchard near Darbhanga in Bihar, known as Lakhi Bagh. Both show how long mango has been a mark of status as well as a food.
Grafting changed the fruit. Instead of growing from seed and giving unpredictable fruit, trees could be propagated to keep the quality of a chosen variety. Many of the named varieties we know today, including the Alphonso of Maharashtra, come from that practice. The Alphonso is commonly said to be named after Afonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese figure linked to the grafting traditions on the western coast.
Mango in Indian culture
Few fruits have a place in so many rituals. A string of mango leaves, the torana, is hung above doors for weddings, housewarmings and festivals as a sign of good fortune. In puja, the kalash is often topped with mango leaves and a coconut. Our page on mango leaves goes deeper into the leaf. The 13th-century poet Amir Khusrau called the mango the fairest fruit of Hindustan.
The mango motif is also a classic pattern in Indian design. The paisley, or kairi, shape used in textiles and mehendi is widely linked to the shape of the mango. Poets in Sanskrit, Urdu, Tamil, Marathi and other languages have written about its arrival as the sign that summer has come.
Which countries have mango as their national fruit?
| Country | Mango status |
|---|---|
| India | National fruit |
| Pakistan | National fruit |
| Philippines | National fruit |
| Bangladesh | The mango tree is the national tree |
These countries share a tropical or subtropical climate that suits the tree, and in each the fruit has been part of everyday food and trade for generations.
Mango varieties across India
India grows a very large number of mango varieties, each tied to a region. A few well-known ones:
- Alphonso (Hapus). Grown along the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. Known for its colour, aroma and smooth flesh.
- Kesar. Grown mainly in Gujarat. Orange-saffron pulp and a strong fragrance. See our Kesar mango.
- Dasheri and Langra. Associated with Uttar Pradesh.
- Totapuri. Firm and tangy, grown in the south and often used for processing.
For more, see our guide to Indian mango varieties.
Where Alphonso fits in
Alphonso is grown in a coastal belt of Maharashtra, with the Ratnagiri and Devgad area the best known. The fruit from there can carry a Geographical Indication, GI No. 139. Our credential is the GI Authorised User certificate AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139), and the details are on our brand facts page.
We source across 48 villages of the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally on hay beds. We have served 47,000+ customers, including offline and marketplace sales, since our first offline sales in 2019.
Alphonso is harvested about February to June, with the best supply from March to May, and the 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027. Fresh Alphonso is not sold outside the season, though Alphonso pulp tins are available all year.
Order India's national fruit online
You can order by the dozen from Ratnagiri Alphonso or Devgad Alphonso, from Rs 1,849 per dozen, and the price rises with grade. A dozen weighs roughly 1.8 to 3.3 kg depending on grade. Check the product page for the current price. The full range is in our mango collection.
Delivery is by Blue Dart. About 65% of Indian PIN codes get next-day delivery, so check your PIN code at checkout.
Also in our range
Alongside the fruit, we also sell roasted pumpkin seeds and star anise.
A crunchy, not-sweet snack.
A whole spice.
Curious about the health side? Our guide on how mango is good for health covers the nutrition. If you have a medical condition, ask your doctor or dietitian how much mango suits you.
People also ask
What is the national fruit of India?
The national fruit of India is the mango, Mangifera indica. It has been grown on the subcontinent for thousands of years, features in ancient texts and festivals, and is eaten in many forms. India is also the largest mango-growing country in the world, with a wide range of regional varieties.
Why is mango called the national fruit of India?
Mango is called the national fruit because of its long history here, its place in rituals and art, its role in everyday food and its large farming base. The leaf marks weddings and festivals, and the fruit is tied to summer. It reflects culture and economy together.
Which countries have mango as their national fruit?
Mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan and the Philippines. Bangladesh does not name it as a national fruit, but the mango tree is its national tree. The tropical and subtropical climate of these countries suits the tree, and the fruit has long been part of food and trade.
Which country is number one in mango?
India is the largest mango-producing country in the world, growing a very large share of the global crop. Much of it is eaten at home, and only a small share is exported. Other major producers include Indonesia, China, Pakistan and Mexico, according to commonly cited production tables.
Related searches
- Buy Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes
- Order Devgad Alphonso mangoes
- Indian mango varieties explained
- How mango is good for health
- Alphonso mango season dates
- Mango leaves and their meaning
- Browse all mangoes
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia, Mango, accessed October 2026.
- Wikipedia, Alphonso mango, accessed October 2026.
Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.