Hey y’all mango fanatics, I cruised up to Alex’s place in Palm Beach and bought everything he had in the “picked” crate. I always wanted to meet Alex and he Was super cool and knowledgeable as I expected. Alex’s Grove is the chocolate factory and Alex is Willy Wonka(in a very good way)I was excited to try some super early mangoes because who doesn’t like the notion of potentially having mangoes in April ripening in their yard? I’m a novice but Most cultivars differ slightly chronologically from year-to year but early or mid or late holds true.
So I figured I’d share my taste opinion on each because they are not widely discussed varieties on the forum. I cannot speak to the productivity, disease resistance or anything valuable to a grower, but guys like Har and Alex and pros like them will handle that. This post is about Early Mango TASTE. (IMO)
Here’s what Alex sold me in order of my preference:
“Edward”:
Excellent “Miami mango,” sweet, dense, fiberless and very creamy(seems best when barely soft to touch). Bright Orange and very Juicy. Julian Lara of Lara farms told me it’s in his top 5 and always will be. Medium sized.
“Duncan” :
Not a favorite of me or the wife. When eaten a bit early, it is very bitter towards skin and tangy/zesty towards the seed. When left to soften a bit more, it tasted like a mild Peach towards the seed, pleasant but not delicious, and also very resinous/bitter toward the skin. Fiberless, light, soft flesh. Me and my wife did not enjoy it very much, just a mild, peachy mango with bitter skin. I’d call it “decent”.Medium sized.
“Rosigold” :
When cut, there is a floral aroma, when eaten it tasted how it smelled. Floral, must have been named for the flavor as-well as the skin appearance. The wife and I would not add it to our collection. It was so floral and piney that we cannot see adding it to the yard UNLESS you MUST have an April Mango, but even then it is a complex mango, floral and bitter at the skin. Fiberless and soft. Small.
“Philippine” :
When eaten early it is like a spoon half full of honey and half full
Of fresh lime juice. Very soft flesh at any ripe stage. Fiberless. Small. When eaten later and softer its just a good honey mango. Simple honey flavor, not overpoweringly sweet. We like it, but not a “wow” mango by any means. Very good sliced with yogurt or over sticky coconut rice. Small
Fruit but very high yield of flesh for its size as the seed is flat.
PLEASE SHARE ALL VERY EARLY
MANGO TASTINGS (BEFORE MAY 1st)
THANK YOU ALL AND PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IS JUST MY OPINION I AM A NOVICE BACKYARD GROWER WITH A MANGO OBSESSION.