A mango cold drink made with ripe Alphonso pulp, chilled milk or water, sugar or honey and ice takes about five minutes to blend. This page gives the recipe, the fruit to choose and tips for a smooth, well-chilled glass.
You can compare boxes and sizes in our Alphonso mango pulp and mango products.
What a mango cold drink is
A mango cold drink is a chilled drink made by blending ripe mango pulp with milk or water, a little sweetener and ice. Versions appear across India under many names, and the same basic method works for most ripe mangoes. The difference you taste comes from the fruit, so the choice of variety and ripeness matters more than any other step.
We sell Alphonso by the dozen from the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt on the Konkan coast. This page is written for fresh Alphonso pulp, so the quantities below use one or two medium fruits per glass.
Why Alphonso makes a better cold drink
Wikipedia describes Alphonso pulp as rich, creamy and non-fibrous, so a drink made from it is smooth without much straining. Alphonso is the Hapus variety of the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt, and it is GI-tagged in India under GI No. 139. Our Ratnagiri fruit is covered by GI Authorised User certificate AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139), and our Devgad fruit by certificate AU/6932.
Fruit that is ripened on a hay bed builds its colour and sweetness over several days, so the pulp is ready to blend once it smells sweet at the stalk. Blend the pulp just before serving for the best colour, because cut mango darkens once it meets the air.
A cold drink needs very little sugar when the fruit is fully ripe, because the natural sweetness carries the drink. Taste the pulp before you add sugar or honey, and add only what you need.
Mango cold drink recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup ripe Alphonso pulp (about 2 medium Ratnagiri fruits, 180 to 225 g each)
- ½ cup chilled milk or water
- Sugar or honey to taste
- 4 to 6 ice cubes
Method
- Mash the Alphonso pulp and strain it if you want a smooth drink, or blend the pulp whole for more texture.
- Add half a cup of chilled milk or water to the pulp.
- Sweeten with sugar or honey to taste. Taste before you add any sweetener.
- Add four to six ice cubes and blend for about 30 seconds.
- Serve at once in chilled glasses.
Chill the glasses for ten minutes before you pour. A cold glass keeps the drink cool for longer, so you need less ice and the flavour stays strong.
For a thicker drink that is closer to a meal, blend one cup of Alphonso pulp with one cup of chilled yoghurt, half a cup of milk, two tablespoons of sugar and six ice cubes. A pinch of ground cardamom or a few saffron strands soaked in warm milk works well as a garnish.
Variations to try
- Mango milkshake: add two scoops of vanilla ice cream and a little more chilled milk for a rich, thick drink.
- Aamras-style drink: the traditional Konkan way is pure pulp, thinned slightly with cold water, with a pinch of salt and cardamom. No blender is needed.
- Cashew garnish: sprinkle chopped cashews on top for texture. Our W240 cashew nuts are a good size for a garnish.
- Flax version: stir in a spoon of ground roasted flax seeds from our roasted flax seed range for a nutty finish.
Choosing the fruit and the season
Alphonso is harvested from about February to June, with the best supply from March to May. The 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027, and fresh Alphonso is not sold outside the season. Outside it, the Alphonso Mango Pulp Tin is available all year in 850 g and 3.1 kg tins from Rs 590, and it works well in the same recipe.
Ratnagiri and Devgad are the same variety, and we do not rank one above the other. Choose by fruit size and by the product page details. The Ratnagiri Alphonso Mango page and the Devgad Alphonso Mango page both list the sizes and dozen options. Check the product page for the current price.
Serving, storage and ripeness
Serve the drink straight after blending, because Alphonso pulp darkens when it is left in the air. Ripe fruit can be kept in the refrigerator for a day or two. Do not refrigerate firm fruit, because cold stops it ripening. Let firm mangoes ripen at room temperature until a sweet smell develops at the stalk and the fruit gives slightly at the shoulder.
Our ripening guide explains the signs of ripeness in more detail. For a batch of pulp to freeze, see our how to make mango pulp guide.
Delivery and arrival
Orders received before 1 PM are dispatched the same day. We dispatch by Blue Dart, and about 65% of Indian PIN codes get next-day delivery. Check your PIN code at checkout. We do not promise a delivery day for any named city, because the PIN code and the courier route decide it. Give an address where someone can receive a perishable box.
Report any damage within 24 hours of delivery to support@alphonsomango.in or 8369048029. Open the box on arrival, lay the fruit in a single layer away from direct sun, and do not chill firm fruit.
Ripening and what to ask any seller
We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally on hay beds. Calcium carbide is prohibited for ripening fruit in India under Regulation 2.3.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, and we are an FSSAI-licensed seller. No home test proves how a mango was ripened. The bucket-of-water test is a rough clue, not proof.
Before you buy fruit for a drink, ask the seller how it was ripened and whether a GI user certificate number is shown for Alphonso. Our guide to identifying authentic Hapus lists more questions to ask.
People also ask
What is the best mango for a cold drink?
Alphonso is a strong choice for a cold drink because its pulp is smooth and naturally sweet, so little sugar is needed. Ratnagiri and Devgad are the same variety, and we do not rank one above the other. Use fully ripe fruit, blend it with chilled milk or water, and taste before adding sweetener.
How do you make a mango cold drink at home?
Blend one cup of ripe Alphonso pulp with half a cup of chilled milk or water, sugar or honey to taste, and four to six ice cubes for about 30 seconds. Strain the mixture if you want a smooth drink. Serve at once in chilled glasses.
Can I make a mango cold drink with pulp from a tin?
Yes. The Alphonso Mango Pulp Tin, in 850 g and 3.1 kg sizes from Rs 590, is available all year and works in the same recipe. Use the same proportions and taste before adding sugar, because the sweetness of canned pulp can differ from fresh fruit.
Does a mango drink need sugar?
A drink made with fully ripe Alphonso often needs very little sugar, because the natural sweetness carries the flavour. Taste the pulp first, then add sugar or honey only if you need it. A pinch of salt or cardamom can also balance the drink.
Related searches
- Mango milkshake recipe
- Aamras recipe
- Mango lassi recipe
- Buy Ratnagiri Alphonso mango online
- canned Alphonso pulp
- Alphonso mango season dates
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia, Alphonso mango.
- Geographical Indications Registry of India, public search record for application 379, Devgad Alphonso Mango (merged with application 139), accessed October 2026.
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, Regulation 2.3.5 (compendium version of 2 April 2025).
Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.
