Which mango varieties are earliest this year? We have had several strange winters lately!
Today, at Truly Tropical, I ate 'Tess' and 'Rosa,' both of which had their first tree-ripened fruits of this season the last week of March.
I like 'Rosa' a lot, because I grew up eating it in northern Brazil, and because I like really strong-tasting mangos.
I had never had 'Tess' before today. It is thought to be a hybrid of 'Carrie' with 'Turpentine.' Because I like strong-tasting mangos, 'Carrie''s flavor, and fiber-free texture and thin edible skin win hands-down with me, BUT THERE AREN'T ANY 'CARRIE' RIPE NOW, and probably won't be for another month!
'Tess' has several obvious advantages: Very Early, Heavy Production, Bright Yellow Color, Firm Texture, and thick Tough Skin. Its flavor is good enough, milder than 'Carrie', with some tartness. It does have fiber, but no worse than a 'Haden.'
No trees are currently available for sale, but she is selling the fruit.