Florida Mango Feast (and Reviews) July 2013!

[Future]

In order to have a really fair taste test the mangos should be numbered, not named. The person tasting them shouldn't know their names because the name will prejudice the outcome given that you will already have some expectations around it. I realize this is not practical format for you Future, but in large taste tests this is how it should be done.

100% agreed.

[Future]

Breakfast: Zilate, PPK, Sensation, Baileys

Zilate is a visually stunning mango and is another of what appears to be a new offering from Fairchild.  (I will upload a close up photo to Flickr later.)  But it doesn't end there.  It combines great size, smooth flesh, a fairly small seed and decent taste to make an all around good mango.  Mine had a small spot of spoilage which promoted me to eat it despite the rest being very firm.  Good choice in this case as it was good to go.  Zilate is worth keeping an eye on.

PPK: I let my last Po Pyu Kalay ripen until it turned wrinkled and slightly orange.  In m short time eating them I have learned this is when they are at their best.  Very sweet.  The flesh on the skin left a bitter after taste in this instance but the flesh it self was nothing short of divine.  Still # 1.

Sensation: another new to me offering from Fairchild but in this case it turned out to be the opposite of its name.  It was spoiled on one end when looking from the outside but firm on the other.  However, it was spoiled all the way through when I cut it.  Nothing to eat here.  Seed kept just the same.

Baileys: This cut too early and clearly not at its best.  Can't fairly judge it but could see the potential.  And my only one too.

Upcoming: Veluptuos (sic) Venus, Itamaraca, Eldon, Myatrynat and the last of the Ice Cream.

We still have not touched a:
Hatcher
Big Saturn
Brooks
BD-19-21
Jakarta
Plutonic Pleasure
Valencia Pride
Mulgoba seedling
Itamaraca
Peach

And the clock ticks.

[Cookie Monster]

Very true! There is also a placebo effect (Expert A and Expert B both say this mango is tops, therefore it must be excellent).

In order to have a really fair taste test the mangos should be numbered, not named. The person tasting them shouldn't know their names because the name will prejudice the outcome given that you will already have some expectations around it. I realize this is not practical format for you Future, but in large taste tests this is how it should be done.

[Tropicdude]

Very true! There is also a placebo effect (Expert A and Expert B both say this mango is tops, therefore it must be excellent).

In order to have a really fair taste test the mangos should be numbered, not named. The person tasting them shouldn't know their names because the name will prejudice the outcome given that you will already have some expectations around it. I realize this is not practical format for you Future, but in large taste tests this is how it should be done.

Yep this is done with medications, except they go even one step further , doing the double blind. even the host running the tests does not know which one is which.

[murahilin]

Very true! There is also a placebo effect (Expert A and Expert B both say this mango is tops, therefore it must be excellent).

Hence the Maha Chanok hype! 

[HMHausman]

Very true! There is also a placebo effect (Expert A and Expert B both say this mango is tops, therefore it must be excellent).

Hence the Maha Chanok hype! 

Hype?  What hype?  Do you not recognize intrinsic fact/truth when you see it.  Some people wouldn't know a good mango if they stepped on it, fell over it and drowned in the juice.

[Tropicdude]

MC is just plain goodness.

[Future]

Lunch: Peach, Eldon, Itamaraca

Peach: This first of the Peach mangoes was ready for lunch.  These are small and as the name suggests, look like a peach.  The have a sight fruity smell, have fiber and are mildly sweet.

Eldon: these are sizable mangoes.  The flesh came off with the skin and was quite enjoyable.  Still hold a fair view of these mangoes.

Itamaraca:  this time, I had a fully ripe one and must say my view of them has improved.  Rich orange flesh, sweet taste.  Size is micro small but worth eating for the delectable sweet taste.  You need a half dozen to make a meal of them though.  Quite a floral smell once fully ripened.  Tey appear to stay green on the outside.  For those that have problems with thieves, this might make an ideal mango - small and green when ripe yet delicious.  Ad I know just the place to plant it....


Peach, Eldon, Itamaraca & Keitt

[Future]

Sensation, Baileys, Zilate

[mangomandan]

I think Zilate has been around for quite a few years.

Any ideas on why it hasn't been more widely planted?

[Future]

I think Zilate has been around for quite a few years.

Any ideas on why it hasn't been more widely planted?

A quick search of the web confirms you are correct.  I see comments from Harry in 2011 ("Zills experietnal mangoes") and even then folks say it ha been around for some years.

[Future]

Dinner: Keitt, Veluptuos Venus, Itamaraca.

Keitt did its thing.  Can't fault the smooth texture, size and flavor of this mango.

Veluptuos Venus has quite the name to live up to.  Another new to me offering of the planetary range (or is it rage?), this is a beautifully colored mango.  This one started to develop black spots of spoilage yet it remained hard.  Today was the day and the mango was fine on the inside.  Smooth flesh, reasonably sweet and a good taste.  Does it meet the standard of a goddess?  I will let you decide for yourself.  For me, it is a worth growing mango.

Itamaracas again, did their thing.


Veluptuos Venus, Itamaraca & Keitt

Tomorrow promises the last of the Keitts, perhaps my solo Jakarta (striking color), possibly a Plutonic Pleasure and the last if the Ice Creams.

[Future]

The visit to King Harry's:

As always, it was great to me up with King Harry and sample some real deal mangoes.  I have to admit though, this year was a bit of a blur to me.  Keeping my eye of the Thai seeds in particular saw me 2 or 3 mangoes behind everyone else at certain points.  Some of the gems we tasted include:

Thai Everbearing x Cushman
Carabao
Golden Nugget
"Harry Carrie"
Carrie
Glenn
Pickering
Fairchild
And of course Maha Chanok!

And then we dusted off a fine jackfruit cross just for fun.  A good day.

[fruitlovers]

I think Zilate has been around for quite a few years.

Any ideas on why it hasn't been more widely planted?

A quick search of the web confirms you are correct.  I see comments from Harry in 2011 ("Zills experietnal mangoes") and even then folks say it ha been around for some years.

I think correct spelling is Zill's Late. Has been here for several decades. It's a good late season mango.

[mangomandan]

You may well be right, Oscar.  I've also seen the variant "Zillate"

[Future]

Breakfast: BD 19-21, Ice Cream, Jakarta

BD 19-21 is a good sized mango.  I have two and this one turned a bit of colour and developed a black spot so I ate it this morning.  A fair flavor, good texture but nothing that was extraordinary.

Ice Cream: You may be tired of hearing about the virtues of this fruit by now but I am surely not tired of eating them.  And this one I left a good two days later than I was tempted to eat it.  The last of the Ice Creams has changed my mind.  For the better.  I now rate a fully ripened Ice Cream right there with PPK, shucks maybe a nose ahead of it.  This is a delightful little mango with the sweetness, complexity and texture of a mango dream.  Let them sit and then enjoy.

Jakarta:  a sizable mango of striking pinkish orange and yellow colours.  This one did not smell strongly and had a pleasant but mild flavor.  Unfair to compare perhaps after an Ice Cream but such is life.

BD 19-21, Myatrynat, Ice Cream


Jakarta


Jakarta

[puglvr1]

Very true! There is also a placebo effect (Expert A and Expert B both say this mango is tops, therefore it must be excellent).

Hence the Maha Chanok hype! 

Hype?  What hype?  Do you not recognize intrinsic fact/truth when you see it.  Some people wouldn't know a good mango if they stepped on it, fell over it and drowned in the juice.

Ha!! Very Funny Harry 

[Future]

Lunch: Myatrynat, Keitt and Plutonic Pleasure.

Myatrynat: my wife enjoys this one.  Orange fleshed and reasonable taste.

Keitt: this carried the lunch today.  Smooth as silk.

Plutonic Pleasure:  this one had a sight give so we gave it a try.  It was the only one of the bunch but as it turns out, it was too early.  It was only the second mango I couldn't finish eating, just too tart.  I suspect even when ripe wpit would be tangy but without be fully ripe, it was just too much.  The pleasure will remain plutonic for now.

Looking through the mangoes left, Brooks, Hatcher, Valencia Pride and Big Saturn are the only ones among them not tasted as yet.  It looks like a max of 10 in total won't be ready before we leave.

[Future]

Dinner: Zilate, Myatrynat, BD 19-21

BD 19-21 was first in sequence.  This one was was almost solid purple and firm.  Time is short so she had to go.  And we were on time.  The flesh was yellow and close enough to ripe.  Hints of fruity smell and a easy to eat taste.  This was a decent mango.

Myatrynat:  I bought many of these based on errant information of their origin from the grower but this has at least landed itself to tasting a range of ripeness in them.  The deep orange flesh is pretty good when ripe.  Doesn't break my top 10 but hey, that is a tough thing to do.

Zilate: the last of the late purple beauties was firm yet ripe when cut.  Floral tones and a moderately sweet flesh are a nice combo.  No issues with Zilate and would definitely buy again.

Upcoming tomorrow we will devour the big Mulgoba seedling's fruit, Myatrynat, and likely the first of the Big Saturns.  Brooks and Hatcher are looking like Sunday, if at all.

[TnTrobbie]

Those Jakarta look really nice. I thought they were "ripe green" type of mangoes. To bad about the flavor though , but I know now not to knock anything untill I've tried it.

[fruitnursery]

Rapoza carried the day today.  Ultra fiberless, silky smooth, sweet and just plain delightful.  Shame someone renamed this Hawaiian selection 'Florida Red'.

Another attempt to usurp the credit by Floridians?    At the other extreme it seems some Floridians are inventing Hawaiian names like St. Maui and Hawaiian Dwarf. If these really are Hawaiian mango cultivars why aren't they here??

Oscar,

A fruit tree collector from Florida who established a mango nursery here in the Philippines bought some mango varieties from florida.  I bought few grafted mango varieties like Hawaiian dwarf a.k.a art-11.  I am not sure if you're familiar with the codename of art-11. 

Don't worry Oscar, I won't change the name Rapoza mango here in  the Philippines.  I think the Rapoza name is a great variety and brand.

Regards,

Berns

[fruitlovers]

Rapoza carried the day today.  Ultra fiberless, silky smooth, sweet and just plain delightful.  Shame someone renamed this Hawaiian selection 'Florida Red'.

Another attempt to usurp the credit by Floridians?    At the other extreme it seems some Floridians are inventing Hawaiian names like St. Maui and Hawaiian Dwarf. If these really are Hawaiian mango cultivars why aren't they here??

Oscar,

A fruit tree collector from Florida who established a mango nursery here in the Philippines bought some mango varieties from florida.  I bought few grafted mango varieties like Hawaiian dwarf a.k.a art-11.  I am not sure if you're familiar with the codename of art-11. 

Don't worry Oscar, I won't change the name Rapoza mango here in  the Philippines.  I think the Rapoza name is a great variety and brand.

Regards,

Berns

Berns, never heard of Art-11. Suspicious to me that it also comes from Florida. If it is a Hawaiian cultivar why is it that none of the nurseries here have it? Does anyone know what the original source was?

[Future]

Breakfast: Big Saturn, Mulgoba seedling, Valencia Pride

With less than a day to go, Big Saturn finds itself on the plate.  Not 100% ripe, but good enough.  A good sized mango with bright flesh.  No strong scents or taste however.  Perhaps too early to be inside the ring (forgive the Saturn pun).

The Mulgoba seedling was even bigger and also a big early to eat.  It had a stronger flavor and I could at least see the potential for sweetness. 

Valencia Pride was closest to being ripe and had quite a pleasant taste.  Large sized mango with a reasonably small seed.  Lots to eat.  Good mango.


Big Saturn, Mulgoba Seedling, Valencia Pride

So this leaves only Hatcher and Brooks untasted and a total on 10 mangoes left...

[DurianLover]

Thanks for the encouragement by all. 
. 
@ DurianLover: Penang sounds good....when is a good time to go? 

June-July depends of shifting weather. Also secondary fruiting around December.  Once trees flowering, than fruiting time can be guessed pretty accurately. 3-4 months depending on variety. You can experience flavors not found in mangoes, like chocolate and coffee. Also fresh dropped Red Prawn will numb your tong and lips. Kind of like after certain dental procedures. After you had all the best wondering who will be king of fruits in your mind. Florida mangoes or Penang durians Good luck!

[Future]

I have a friend in the area so will seriously keep this in mind for 2014.