Unlocking the Secrets of Mango Fruit: Ultimate Guide

Everything about mangoes: they are stone fruits native to South Asia, peak season runs March–June, Alphonso variety holds GI No. 139, Brix levels reach 18 to 24°, and certified fruit ships across India in 1–3 days by air.

Buy Mango Fruit Online

AlphonsoMango.in sources from 48 villages across Ratnagiri and Devgad, Konkan, Maharashtra. Every box is GI-authorised, FSSAI-compliant and carbide-free. Two nutrient-dense superfood companions ship alongside every order.

Commercial Comparison: Ratnagiri vs Devgad Alphonso

Both Ratnagiri and Devgad produce GI-certified Alphonso mangoes. The difference lies in soil mineral content, coastal microclimate and resulting flavour profile. Use this table to choose.

Parameter	Ratnagiri Alphonso	Devgad Alphonso
GI Certification	GI No. 139	GI No. 139
Brix Level	18 to 24°	18 to 24°
Season Window	Mid-March to May	April to June
Average Fruit Weight	150–250 g	180–300 g
Skin Colour (ripe)	Golden yellow	Deep golden with saffron tint
Flavour	Rich, sweet, slight tang	Intensely sweet, low fibre
Indicative Price Range	₹649–₹1,299 per dozen	₹799–₹1,499 per dozen
Best For	Fresh eating, Aamras	Fresh eating, gifting, export

Delivery Across India

Orders placed before 3 pm IST on working days dispatch the same day. BlueDart air cargo handles all shipments. Transit times: Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad — 1 day. Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Surat — 1–2 days. Northeast India, Jammu, Andaman — 2–3 days.

Each box is packed with natural wood-wool cushioning. Mangoes travel unripe or semi-ripe so they reach you at peak condition after natural room-temperature ripening of 2–4 days. Refrigeration slows ripening; it does not stop it. We do not ship between July and February — the fruit is simply not available then.

How to order

1. Step 1: Select Grade — Choose Ratnagiri or Devgad Alphonso, or Kesar; select dozen count or weight band.
2. Step 2: Add to Cart — Confirm grade, quantity and delivery pincode at checkout.
3. Step 3: Same-day Dispatch — Orders confirmed before 3 pm IST on working days ship the same day via BlueDart air.

Origin and Botany of Mango Fruit

The mango — Mangifera indica — is a drupe, or stone fruit. It belongs to the family Anacardiaceae. Its wild origin is the foothills of the Himalayas and the forests of Myanmar and Bangladesh. Indians have cultivated mango trees for more than 4,000 years.

India is the world's largest producer, contributing roughly 45% of global output. The country grows over 1,000 named varieties. The Alphonso — called Hapus in Marathi — remains the most exported and most sought after. Mango is the national fruit of India.

How many varieties of mango exist in India?

India recognises more than 1,000 commercial and regional varieties. The most prominent include Alphonso (Hapus), Kesar, Dasheri, Langra, Totapuri, Pairi, Malgoa and Banganapalli. Each has a distinct Brix range, fibre content and season window. Alphonso from Konkan and Kesar from Saurashtra hold the two most celebrated GI tags for mango in India.

What does a mango tree look like?

A mature mango tree reaches 10–40 metres in height. Its canopy is dense and dome-shaped. Leaves are long, lance-shaped and dark green. The tree flowers in December–January in Konkan. Fruit matures over 100–120 days. A single tree in Ratnagiri can yield 200–400 fruits per season depending on age and weather.

Authenticity and GI Certification

The Geographical Indication tag for Alphonso mango (GI No. 139) was registered on 16 October 2019. It covers fruit grown in Ratnagiri and Devgad talukas of Konkan, Maharashtra. Only authorised users may label their fruit as GI-certified Alphonso.

AlphonsoMango.in holds GI Authorisation AU/5974/GI/139/260. Prashant Powle and the sourcing team personally visit orchards across villages including Devgad, Vengurla, Ratnagiri and nearby Konkan belt each season to select and grade fruit at origin. Fake Alphonso — labelled Hapus but grown elsewhere — is common in urban markets. The GI tag is the only verifiable proof of origin.

How to identify genuine Alphonso mango?

Genuine Alphonso has a thin, smooth skin that turns golden yellow with a pale saffron blush when ripe. The aroma is intense — sweet, floral, almost honey-like. Pulp is fiberless, deep orange, and firm yet buttery. Brix reads 20–24°. A genuine Devgad Alphonso leaves no sticky residue on the skin when pressed lightly. Any chemically ripened fruit shows uneven colour patches and lacks this aroma.

Natural Ripening: Hay-Bed Method

AlphonsoMango.in uses only natural hay-bed ripening. Freshly harvested mangoes rest on beds of dried paddy straw for 4–7 days. The hay regulates temperature and allows ethylene gas — the fruit's own ripening hormone — to work evenly. No calcium carbide. No ethephon spray. This is the traditional method used across 48 sourcing villages in Ratnagiri and Devgad.

Carbide-ripened mangoes look yellow but taste flat. The skin discolours unevenly. The flesh stays firm and white near the seed. Hay-ripened Alphonso turns uniformly golden, the flesh is fully orange to the seed, and the Brix holds above 20°.

How to ripen mangoes at home?

Place semi-ripe mangoes in a paper bag or wrap them in newspaper. Leave at room temperature — 24–28°C is ideal. Do not refrigerate unripe fruit. They will be ready in 2–4 days. Once fully ripe — skin turns golden, fruit yields to gentle thumb pressure — refrigerate and consume within 3–5 days.

Nutrition and Health Benefits

What nutrients does mango fruit contain?

Per 100 g of ripe Alphonso mango pulp:

• Calories: approximately 60–70 kcal
• Vitamin C: 36–46 mg (40–50% of daily requirement)
• Vitamin A (as beta-carotene): 765–900 µg RAE
• Folate: 43 µg
• Potassium: 168 mg
• Dietary fibre: 1.6 g
• Natural sugars: 13–14 g

What is beta-carotene and why does mango have it?

Beta-carotene is a plant pigment that the body converts to Vitamin A. It is the compound that turns Alphonso pulp deep orange. High beta-carotene supports eye health, immune function and skin integrity. Alphonso mango contains among the highest beta-carotene levels of any Indian fruit variety.

What are the health benefits of eating mango fruit?

Mangoes support digestion through natural enzymes — amylase and lipase — that break down starch and fat. The fibre content feeds gut bacteria. Vitamin C boosts collagen synthesis and immune response. Polyphenols including mangiferin show anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory studies. Mangoes eaten in moderate portions — one to two fruits daily during season — fit well within a balanced diet.

Does eating mango cause weight gain?

Ripe Alphonso mango provides roughly 60–70 kcal per 100 g. In reasonable portions, it does not cause weight gain. The fibre and water content promote satiety. The issue arises with mango-based desserts — Aamras with cream, mango ice cream — that carry additional fat and sugar. The fruit itself is not the culprit.

Season, Storage and Availability

When is mango season in India?

Alphonso mango season in Konkan runs from mid-March to early June. Ratnagiri fruit arrives first, typically in the third week of March. Devgad fruit peaks in April and extends through May into early June. Kesar from Gujarat follows, peaking April–June. By July, the season ends. We ship no mangoes from July through February. There is no fruit to ship.

How to store ripe mangoes?

Ripe mangoes keep in the refrigerator for 3–5 days. Slice and freeze pulp in airtight bags for up to 6 months. Do not freeze whole mangoes — the skin traps moisture and the texture suffers. Aamras freezes well and retains flavour for up to 4 months.

What about green mangoes?

Raw green mangoes are sour and firm. They are high in Vitamin C and tartaric acid. In Konkan kitchens, raw mango goes into chutneys, pickles (aachar), Panna (a cooling summer drink), and raw mango dal. Green Totapuri and Pairi varieties are common choices for these uses. Alphonso is occasionally used raw in early-season Panna for its fragrance.

Using Mango Fruit: Aamras, Pulp and More

What is Aamras?

Aamras is the pure pulp of ripe Alphonso mangoes, pressed and lightly sweetened. It is a staple of Maharashtrian summer meals — served with puri, chapati or plain rice. AlphonsoMango.in supplies bottled Aamras made from GI-certified Alphonso. No artificial colour, no preservatives beyond natural pasteurisation.

What is the difference between Aamras and mango pulp?

Aamras is freshly pressed pulp, minimally processed, intended for immediate or refrigerated use. Commercial mango pulp is pasteurised at higher temperature for ambient shelf life and typically uses Kesar or Totapuri, which yield more volume per fruit. AlphonsoMango.in Aamras uses only Alphonso. The flavour difference is significant.

Simple Mango Coconut Recipe

Blend 200 g ripe Alphonso pulp with 100 ml fresh coconut milk, a pinch of cardamom and four ice cubes. Serve immediately. No sugar is needed — Brix above 20° provides all the sweetness. This drink is common in Ratnagiri and Devgad villages at harvest time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Authority

AlphonsoMango.in is operated by Powle Home Foods, a brand of Powle Home Foods The business holds GI Authorisation AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139, Registry Certificate 4163, issued 16 October 2019), FSSAI Licence 10020022011783 and APEDA Registration 225579. All fruit is ripened using traditional hay-bed methods — no carbide, no chemical ripening agents. The brand has served 47,000+ customers since 2019 and exports to the US, UK, UAE, Singapore and Japan.

Source: Powle Home Foods (Powle Home Foods), GI Authorisation AU/5974/GI/139/260 covering Alphonso mango sourced from 48 villages across Ratnagiri and Devgad, Konkan, Maharashtra.

For a deeper look at the Alphonso's heritage, read our guide on why mango is called the King of Fruits and our detailed mango health benefits guide.

Shop the full mango range — GI-certified, carbide-free, delivered by air: Browse All Mangoes at AlphonsoMango.in.