Which mango is best depends on how you eat it. Alphonso suits eating fresh, Kesar suits milkshakes, Dasheri and Langra suit North Indian tastes, and raw Totapuri suits pickles. We sell Alphonso from Rs 1,849 per dozen and Kesar from Rs 999 per box.
People ask which Indian mango is best, and in Hindi, sabse acha aam konsa hai. There is no single answer, because India grows over 1,000 named varieties and each was selected for a different taste, texture and use. What we can do is tell you which mango wins for which job, and where Alphonso stands against the rest. I am Prashant Powle, and I run AlphonsoMango.in, so I am open about the fact that Alphonso is our main product. The comparison below is still meant to help you pick whatever suits you.
Which mango is best for what
Start with the use, not the name. A mango that is wonderful sliced at the table can be a poor choice for a pickle, and the other way round.
| Use | Good choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Eating fresh | Alphonso (Hapus) | Rich, fragrant, soft pulp with little fibre |
| Aamras | Alphonso, or Kesar for a lighter colour | Smooth pulp that blends without strings |
| Milkshakes and ice cream | Kesar | Sweet, creamy and easy to blend |
| Pickles and chutney | Raw Totapuri or another firm, sour green mango | Firm, tangy flesh that holds its shape |
| Gifting | Alphonso | Widely known and easy to explain |
| Use all year | Alphonso pulp | Fresh fruit is seasonal, pulp tins are not |
If you only want one mango for eating fresh, Alphonso is a safe place to start. Taste is personal, though. Someone raised on Langra in Varanasi or Dasheri near Lucknow may well prefer it, and that is a perfectly good answer to the question.
Top mango varieties in India
These twelve turn up most often in Indian markets and kitchens. Seasons shift a little with the weather each year, so treat the months as rough guides. India produces roughly 43% of the world's mangoes (FAO figures that also include mangosteens and guavas), about 26 million tonnes in 2023.
- Alphonso (Hapus): from the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. Sweet, fragrant, soft pulp. Harvested about February to June.
- Kesar: grown around the Girnar hills and Gir in Gujarat. Saffron-coloured pulp, sweet with mild acidity. Mostly May and June.
- Pairi (Payari): popular in Maharashtra, with a sweet-sour taste and strong aroma.
- Totapuri: large, long and tangy. Common for pickles, chutneys and commercial pulp.
- Dasheri: a North Indian favourite from the Malihabad belt near Lucknow. Fragrant, thin-skinned, usually June and July.
- Langra: from Varanasi. The skin often stays green when the fruit is ripe. Usually July.
- Chausa: a late-season, honey-sweet mango from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
- Badami: Karnataka's counterpart to Alphonso, sold as Karnataka Hapus. It is a separate variety.
- Neelam: small and consistently sweet, common across South India in the later part of the season.
- Himsagar: from West Bengal. Thick, sweet pulp with a short season.
- Banganapalli: large and oblong, grown mainly in Andhra Pradesh. Sweet with a faint tang.
- Mallika: a Neelam and Dasheri cross with a strong aroma.
We go deeper on this list in our guide to the types of mangoes in India.
Alphonso vs Kesar
Alphonso and Kesar are the two mangoes people most often ask us to compare, and we sell both (we also sell Pairi). Both are good. They suit different tastes. Kesar is said to have been grown in 1931 by the Junagadh Wazir Sale Bhai, and is said to have been known as Kesar since 1934, when the Nawab of Junagadh remarked on its orange pulp.
| Point | Alphonso (Hapus) | Kesar |
|---|---|---|
| Home region | Konkan coast, Maharashtra | Gir and Girnar area, Gujarat |
| Flavour | Rich, floral, deep sweetness | Saffron-sweet with mild acidity |
| Fibre | Little to none | Little, depending on the fruit |
| Best use | Fresh, aamras, pulp, gifting | Milkshakes, desserts, aamras |
| Fresh season | About February to June, best supply March to May | Mostly May and June |
| Our price | From Rs 1,849 per dozen | From Rs 999 per box |
You can see current grades and prices on our Ratnagiri Alphonso, Devgad Alphonso and Kesar mango pages. Prices are "from" prices, so check the product page for the current price. A dozen of Alphonso weighs roughly 1.8 to 3.3 kg depending on grade.
How to choose a good mango
Whatever variety you pick, a few checks help.
- Smell the stem end. A ripe mango smells sweet and fruity there. No smell usually means it needs more time.
- Press gently. Ripe fruit gives slightly. Rock-hard fruit is not ready, and mushy fruit is past its best.
- Look for even colour. Some varieties, like Langra, stay green, so learn what ripe looks like for the variety you are buying.
- Ask the seller what they can state. Variety, region, grade, fruit count per dozen and ripening method are all fair questions.
- Do not rely on one test. A bucket of water or a sniff can be a rough clue, not proof of anything.
Origin and authenticity of Alphonso
Alphonso gets its character from the Konkan coast: laterite soil, a sea breeze and warm days with cooler nights. The variety is linked to the Portuguese, and the name is generally traced to Afonso de Albuquerque. Alphonso from Ratnagiri carries GI No. 139. Alphonso fruits generally weigh 150 to 300 g.
AlphonsoMango.in is run by Powle Home Foods in Mumbai. We hold GI Authorised User certificate AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139), and our fruit is sourced across 48 villages of the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt. Details are on our Brand Facts page. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally on hay beds.
Buying and season
Fresh Alphonso is harvested about February to June, with the best supply from March to May. Our 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027. Outside the season we do not sell fresh Alphonso, but Alphonso pulp tins are available all year from Rs 590.
Delivery is by Blue Dart. About 65% of Indian PIN codes get next-day delivery, so check your PIN code at checkout for your own address. You can browse everything we have on the mango collection or go straight to the order-online page.
Whichever you choose, a mango is better eaten at its peak than stored for long. Ripe fruit keeps best at room temperature for a day or two, and in the fridge for a little longer. Take it out for a while before eating so the aroma comes back.
We also sell dry fruits and cashews.
People also ask
Which mango is best for eating fresh?
Alphonso is a common choice for eating fresh, thanks to its sweet, fragrant, soft pulp with little fibre. Kesar is a popular alternative for people who like a milder, saffron-sweet taste. Dasheri and Langra are favourites in North India. The best one is ultimately the one you enjoy most.
Which mango is better, Alphonso or Kesar?
Neither is better in every case. Alphonso has a richer, floral flavour and suits eating fresh, aamras and gifting. Kesar is sweet with mild acidity and works well in milkshakes and desserts. Alphonso is available fresh from about February, Kesar mostly in May and June.
Which mango is best for aamras?
Alphonso is the traditional choice for aamras because its pulp is smooth with little fibre. Kesar also works and gives a lighter colour and milder sweetness. If you want aamras outside the fresh season, Alphonso pulp is a practical option because it is available all year.
Which Indian mango is the best?
There is no official best, because taste differs by region. Alphonso from the Konkan coast is widely known for premium eating. Dasheri, Langra, Himsagar, Kesar and Banganapalli each have strong followings. Choose by use, season and your own taste rather than by a single ranking.
Which mango is best for pickles?
Raw Totapuri is the common pick for pickles and chutneys because it is firm, tangy and holds its shape. Other firm, sour green mangoes work too. Choose firm, green, unbruised fruit, and avoid the soft or ripening mangoes that are better kept for eating.
Related searches
- Types of mangoes in India
- Alphonso mango price per dozen
- Buy Ratnagiri Alphonso mango online
- Devgad Hapus mango online
- Kesar mango boxes
- Alphonso mango pulp for aamras
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia, Mango, accessed October 2026.
- Wikipedia, Alphonso mango, accessed October 2026.
- Wikipedia, Gir Kesar, accessed October 2026.
Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.