Never had, nor even heard of Pope or Excel. I did have a chance to taste (thanks to Murahilin) the Rosa, Tess and Hawaiian Dwarf. Since these were the first mangoes of the season, not purchased from the store, they enjoy the glow of that status and get some additional points for being so early. Kinda like my uncle who always said I was his favorite (but really only) nephew.
All of these mangoes fall into the category, for me, as great, when there are no other mangoes around, but would never even be given a thought during the regular mango season. My least favorite was Hawaiian Dwarf. It was small and somewhat firm and predominantly green on the outside. I wondered if it was even ripe from its exterior feeling and look. However, inside it was clear that it was ripe. It had been refrigerated. So that could have affected its overall eating quality. I liked the other two more, but neither had any really superlative qualities. I did try eating the skin with the Rosa as was suggested. That did impart a small amount of resinous twang that Har inidcates that he refers in his mangoes. For me, the skin is a bit too tough to really give me any enjoyment in the eating of the otherwise softer, succulent mango flesh. I will not be making a habit of eating the skin on this or any other mango in all probability. But, as Har indicated, there is no biterness in the Rosa skin....which I will be taking his word is different than what you get when you eat the skin of other mangoes.
On the early mango front, I forgot another of my very advanced cultivars. Its the Kau Dwarf out of Hawaii. Its a red skinned cultivar that I thonk has some commercial promise here. As I recall now, it has been the first to fruit (after Rosigold when it fruits) in previous years.
Harry
