NOTE: Mallika is NOT a compact mango, please see the description of the tree size. It is a vigorous cultivar that needs pruning to be maintained at a small height. This is the reason why it was not included in the original list. However it has received several honorable mentions for responding well to tip pruning/training so it's characteristics are listed here. But please be advised that Mallika does not fit the criteria of compact mangoCultivar Information for the
master list of compact mango treesCultivar Name:
Mallika Tree Size, Growth Rate, Vigorousness-- In my experience, Mallika is not a small tree; its actually a fairly vigorous grower. I would even say more than the NDM #4, dwarfing or regular rootstock. For some reason it has been promoted as a 'semi-dwarf' when it is nothing of the sort. Mallika could probably benefit more from being grafted to dwarfing stock than NDM. (REF)-- So Mallika and Beverly and Fairchild are not very compact on their own, but can be made that way every year.
(REF)-- For a dwarf it's leggy, not well branched
(REF)-- Another mango I'd recommend is Mallika. Though it's a vertical grower like Maha Chanok, it responds very nicely to tip pruning and doesn't develop "droopy" resultant shoots like Coconut Cream and Pickering.
(REF)Productivity and Precociousness-- Mallika: very nice sweet mango [orange, carrot, papaya tones depending on stage], great production/ disease
(REF)Ripening Time (Location dependent)Looks like mid-season given commment timestamps
Flavor / Color / Tasting Notes-- think Mallika fruits can be variable like Neelam. Both are Indian mangoes
I remember a poster here said his mallikas tasted like carrots and he was going to axe the tree.
(REF)-- Dasheri on the other hand gets lots of praise and is touted as the best mango India has. One neighbour even told me that a well ripened Mallika tastes just like it.
(REF)-- I've never had Mallika...I've heard the word "carrot" taste in some of the descriptions. Is it true? I personally wouldn't think I would like a Mango with that flavor in it...but I can't be sure of course till I actually taste one.
(REF)-- I don't detect any "carrot" in Mallika's flavor at all...."honey" is the dominant flavor note but it does have more subtle undertones.
(REF)-- This season is my first experience with attempting to properly ripen a Mallika Mango. My trees produced about a dozen or so mature fruit, and I have been picking and ripening them for a few weeks. It has been difficult to determine the correct timing, as they did appear large and mature enough to me beginning in early June.
The first fruit I attempted to ripen did color change to a nice, beautiful yellow. When I cut it up however, it had almost zero sweetness. Obviously picked too early. Then over the past 6 weeks or so, I picked and ripened a number of the fruits. All were green when picked, and were various stages of yellow when "ripe". They were good, but not top tier, lacking enough sweetness to stand amongst the top dogs.
Then last friday, July 13th, Sheehan brought to the tasting table at Harry's 2 beautiful yellow Mallika's. They actually appeared fake, they were just that perfect looking. One was tree ripened, and one was picked green and ripened in a bag. They were both very good, and by far the best Mallika's I had had up to that point. Top 5 out of 20+ varieties at the table. Most agreed that the picked green individual tasted better, although some did prefer the tree ripened one. According to Sheehan's " Brix -o-meter", the picked green one had more sugar content.
Yesterday, I had Seadation over for a mini tasting. On the table were a fully ripened Khun See, Nam Doc Mai, Carrie, and Alphonso, and my Mallika that had been picked green on July 5, and ripened in a paper bag for 10 days. This (one amongst a group of 3) Mallika that I picked was not really yellow. More of a funky green with a mottled skin. It had been 10 days since picking, and they just "felt" right.
The result ? The best Mallika I have ever had. It was just delicious. Rich, complex sweet, with hints of citrus and vanilla. Destroyed the competition, and is burned into my memory as one of the best.
(REF)-- mallika: sorry, I just don't like mallika, at all!
(REF)-- dear all...,Mallika mango from India is undoubtedly the world's finest mango in taste...
(REF)-- Mallika is a great mango for sure, but "worlds finest" depends on the person eating the mango, no mango will ever be, everyone's favorite. also there are over 1000 varieties of mangoes with new hybrids being introduced all the time, so even the Mallika may be bred to make it even better.
(REF)-- I will agree 100% that a well ripened Mallika can be as good ss any Zills variety.
(REF)-- I was the poster who said the Mallika tasted like carrots; and they did one year. However, in subsequent years, if they are picked at the right time they are some of the best mangoes I've had. However, they are finicky on when to be picked, and if picked too early/too late can have a carrot taste or fizz grape soda taste (overripe). I would not ax the tree we have.
(REF)