Alphonso mango origin traces to the Konkan coast of Maharashtra, where Portuguese settlers are credited with introducing grafting in the 16th century. The name is generally traced to Afonso de Albuquerque, and locally it is called Hapus. Ratnagiri and Devgad are its best-known growing areas.
For what is available now, see GI-tagged Ratnagiri Hapus.
People often ask whether the Alphonso is a Portuguese mango, an Indian one, or both. The short version is that the mango is native to South Asia, the Alphonso as a named variety grew out of Portuguese grafting on the Konkan coast, and it is now one of the best-known fruits in India. I am Prashant Powle, and I run AlphonsoMango.in, where we sell Alphonso from Ratnagiri and Devgad. This page covers the origin and the name, and what that history means when you buy.
Where Alphonso mango comes from
Alphonso is a mango variety from the Konkan region of Maharashtra, along India's west coast. Two names matter most for the fruit today: Ratnagiri, a district, and Devgad, a taluka in Sindhudurg district. Both grow the same variety, which is called Alphonso in English and Hapus in Marathi. These two areas are the best-known sources of Alphonso. Konkan is a stretch of the western coast of India between the Arabian Sea and the Deccan Plateau, and Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg are among its districts.
| Origin factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Region | Konkan coast, Maharashtra, India |
| Best-known areas | Ratnagiri district and Devgad taluka (Sindhudurg) |
| Soil | Laterite, red and rocky |
| Climate | Warm, coastal, with sea breeze and monsoon rain |
| Local name | Hapus (also written Haapus) |
| Harvest | About February to June, best supply March to May |
| GI | GI No. 139 for Alphonso from Ratnagiri |
History of the Alphonso mango
The mango itself has grown in South Asia for thousands of years, and it is India's national fruit. What changed on the Konkan coast was the method. In the 16th century the Portuguese, who ruled Goa and held ports along this coast, introduced grafting, a way of joining a cutting from a chosen tree onto a rootstock. Grafting lets growers copy a tree whose fruit they like, instead of hoping a seed produces the same taste.
From there, the story is mostly one of farmers. Families on the Konkan coast kept the best trees, grafted from them and carried the variety forward over many generations. That is why many Alphonso orchards today are old, family-held and small. I will not claim more than the record supports, so I will say only this: the exact first graft is not something anyone can point to, and anyone who gives you a precise date and name is simplifying.
- 16th century: the Portuguese introduce grafting in Goa and along the coast.
- Following centuries: Konkan growers select and graft the best trees, and Hapus becomes a prized fruit.
- Recent decades: Alphonso is registered as a Geographical Indication, GI No. 139.
- Today's trade: Alphonso is sold across India and abroad, and farm-to-door selling online has grown.
Why it is called Alphonso and Hapus
The English name is generally traced to Afonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese general and governor in India in the early 1500s. The story goes that the fruit was named in honour of him, because grafting spread under Portuguese influence. Marathi speakers say Hapus, which is widely thought to be a local form of the same name, Afonso. In Hindi you will hear "Hapus aam".
Naming stories are not documents, so I would treat them as the generally accepted explanation rather than a proven fact. What is certain is that the names Alphonso and Hapus refer to the same variety, and that the Portuguese era is where the story begins.
Why the Konkan coast suits Alphonso
Growers often credit the soil, sea air and weather, along with generations of selection:
- Laterite soil. It is well drained and iron-rich, and mango roots do well in it.
- Sea air. The coastal breeze and humidity shape how the fruit develops.
- Dry winter, then warmth. Flowering needs the right weather, and unseasonal rain or heat can reduce the crop.
- Generations of selection. Konkan growers have kept and grafted the best trees for many generations.
Alphonso trees are planted elsewhere in India and in other warm countries, and the fruit is not always the same as Konkan fruit. Soil, climate and handling all change it. That is a large part of why buyers ask for fruit by region.
GI tag and what it means for authenticity
A Geographical Indication, or GI, ties a product's name to a place. For Alphonso, the registered GI is No. 139. AlphonsoMango.in is run by Powle Home Foods in Mumbai, and we hold GI Authorised User certificate AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139). You can read the details on our AlphonsoMango.in brand facts.
We source fruit across 48 villages of the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt. Harvest is done at Brahma Muhurta, before dawn. 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. Sales began offline in 2019, and we have sold online since 2020.
No single test can prove where a mango grew. Ask any seller for the region, the grade, how many fruits are in a dozen and how they ripen it, then compare the answers.
Alphonso season and where to buy
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.
You can buy the authentic Ratnagiri Alphonso or the Devgad Alphonso dozen boxes by the dozen, from Rs 1,849 per dozen. Prices go up with grade, and a dozen weighs roughly 1.8 to 3.3 kg. Check the product page for the current price. The order-online page lists every size, and the mango collection shows the rest of the range. Delivery is by Blue Dart, and about 65% of Indian PIN codes get next-day delivery, so check your PIN code at checkout.
If you want to know what to do after the box arrives, read our guide on how to ripen mangoes at home. If you are still deciding between varieties, see which mango is best.
People also ask
Where is Alphonso mango originally from?
Alphonso comes from the Konkan coast of Maharashtra, India, with Ratnagiri and Devgad its best-known growing areas. The variety developed after the Portuguese introduced grafting there in the 16th century. In Marathi it is called Hapus, and Konkan growers have kept the trees going for many generations.
Why is it called Alphonso mango?
The name is generally traced to Afonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese governor of India in the early 1500s, under whose period grafting spread along the Konkan coast. It is the accepted explanation rather than a documented fact. Hapus, the Marathi name, is widely believed to be a local form of Afonso.
What does Hapus mean in Marathi?
Hapus is the Marathi name for the Alphonso mango, and Marathi speakers use it for both the tree and the fruit. The word is widely thought to come from Afonso, the Portuguese name behind Alphonso. Hapus and Alphonso are therefore the same variety, not two different mangoes.
Is Alphonso grown only in Maharashtra?
GI No. 139 covers Alphonso from Ratnagiri; the scope is explained on our Brand Facts page. Ratnagiri and Devgad are the best-known growing areas. Alphonso trees are also planted in other Indian states and warm countries, but conditions differ, and so can the fruit. Ask the seller where the fruit was grown and how it was graded.
What makes Ratnagiri Alphonso special?
Ratnagiri Alphonso is known for sweet, fragrant, soft pulp with little fibre. Growers credit the laterite soil, the sea air and the coastal weather, along with generations of selection by farmers. Taste is personal, so compare grade and origin when you buy rather than relying on a name alone.
Related searches
- Buy Ratnagiri Alphonso mango online
- Buy Devgad Hapus mango online
- Alphonso mango price per dozen
- Types of mangoes in India
- Which mango is best
- How to ripen mangoes at home
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia, Alphonso mango, accessed October 2026.
- Wikipedia, Konkan, accessed October 2026.
- Geographical Indications Registry, Devgad Alphonso Mango, application 379 (merged with application No. 139), accessed October 2026.
Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.
