Future’s Florida Fruit Feast - Vol 12

[Future]

Welcome to Volume 12.

Caveat: it’s not 2012 anymore and time to detail each and every mango just isn’t there like days gone by.  But, I will chime in on what’s hitting the mark in 2024, and what isn’t, plus end with a top 10 for the year. Let the games begin.

[Future]

So far we have been working with

- ***Guava
- Maha Chanok
- Carrie
- ***Phoenix
- ***Dot
- *Pim Seng Mung
- Coconut Cream
- Cac
- Sunrise
- **Buttercream
- Sunrise
- LZ
- *Angie
- Monty
- *Pickering
- Nam doc mai
- ***PPK
- Apricot
- Fruit cocktail
- ValCarrie
- Sia Siam
- Sugar loaf
- *Edgar
- Kesar
- Dupuis Saigon
- Taralay
- *Pineapple Pleasure
- *Ugly Betty
- *Taimour

One asterisk for the good, two for the great. Three for world class.

These have all been early season fare so to be sure, true ratings pro won’t kick in until July.

[SHV]

I would enjoy your thoughts on Guava mango.  Got to try a perfectly ripened Guava mango this year for the first time.  I did not expect it to taste like an Indian mango, but that’s exactly what it was.  Fiber free, sweet with low acid and that Indian funk. Poly seed. Not sure how it got the name Guava as I didn’t detect any flavor resemblance to a guava fruit.  A really good mango but not world class in my book, with acknowledgement that flavor preferences are subjective.

[Jaboticaba45]

Nice!
Guava this year is a winner.
LZ, not so much.
Also I need to eat more qty to determine that fully. Florida, here I come...
It's interesting to taste the changes in mango quality each year.
I like it like that. Each year is a new surprise!

[Oolie]

I would enjoy your thoughts on Guava mango.  Got to try a perfectly ripened Guava mango this year for the first time.  I did not expect it to taste like an Indian mango, but that’s exactly what it was.  Fiber free, sweet with low acid and that Indian funk. Poly seed. Not sure how it got the name Guava as I didn’t detect any flavor resemblance to a guava fruit.  A really good mango but not world class in my book, with acknowledgement that flavor preferences are subjective.

It's good, the Guava flavor isn't always the most pronounced. Gotta try it at multiple stages of ripeness. In its prime there's a mouthfeel that is special and a subtle geranium aroma.

[bovine421]

Welcome to Volume 12.

Caveat: it’s not 2012 anymore and time to detail each and every mango just isn’t there like days gone by.  But, I will chime in on what’s hitting the mark in 2024, and what isn’t, plus end with a top 10 for the year. Let the games begin.

I'm hoping you have an opportunity to try P22 lot of hype lot of chitter chatter. I will get to sample it the first time probably in July because my brother from another mother has that tree. So far buttercream has been the best but I've had some really good Carrie and some sweet tart from Area 51 Palm City. From my own trees which is still early I'm just starting to pick Dwarf Hawaiian. I had a early bloom M4 drop that I had finny for probably 7 days. Totally expected to be sour immature but was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was. No note of coconut as of yet but I'm pretty stoked about M4. I have Dot and OS sitting on the counter so stay tuned things are cranking up in 9B. There's a good chance I will get to sample Black Julie for it second season of fruiting. Oh yes and Super Julie was superb

[Future]

I would enjoy your thoughts on Guava mango.  Got to try a perfectly ripened Guava mango this year for the first time.  I did not expect it to taste like an Indian mango, but that’s exactly what it was.  Fiber free, sweet with low acid and that Indian funk. Poly seed. Not sure how it got the name Guava as I didn’t detect any flavor resemblance to a guava fruit.  A really good mango but not world class in my book, with acknowledgement that flavor preferences are subjective.

Guava has been incredible this year for me. The house has been bathed in mango aroma for weeks now so when a mango aroma catches attention for it, it’s noteworthy. The texture, immaculate. The combination of sweetness and richness with a silky fibreless flesh. It’s really been tough to beat this year.

[Future]

Welcome to Volume 12.

Caveat: it’s not 2012 anymore and time to detail each and every mango just isn’t there like days gone by.  But, I will chime in on what’s hitting the mark in 2024, and what isn’t, plus end with a top 10 for the year. Let the games begin.

I'm hoping you have an opportunity to try P22 lot of hype lot of chitter chatter. I will get to sample it the first time probably in July because my brother from another mother has that tree. So far buttercream has been the best but I've had some really good Carrie and some sweet tart from Area 51 Palm City. From my own trees which is still early I'm just starting to pick Dwarf Hawaiian. I had a early bloom M4 drop that I had finny for probably 7 days. Totally expected to be sour immature but was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was. No note of coconut as of yet but I'm pretty stoked about M4. I have Dot and OS sitting on the counter so stay tuned things are cranking up in 9B. There's a good chance I will get to sample Black Julie for it second season of fruiting. Oh yes and Super Julie was superb

You are on to a good thing. P22 is a Future’s Top 50 mango. I have a source who says he has it and thank goodness as I haven’t had the privilege in years. The last time I had it I shared some with a friend. It was among about 6 mangoes. We ate and ate but when they got to this one…there was a big pause. After the silent savourriny they asked, what’s that mango?  It stands out. Looking forward to getting my hands on it again.

Also, I note you are an hour from me. We should consider connecting.

[bovine421]

Welcome to Volume 12.

Caveat: it’s not 2012 anymore and time to detail each and every mango just isn’t there like days gone by.  But, I will chime in on what’s hitting the mark in 2024, and what isn’t, plus end with a top 10 for the year. Let the games begin.

I'm hoping you have an opportunity to try P22 lot of hype lot of chitter chatter. I will get to sample it the first time probably in July because my brother from another mother has that tree. So far buttercream has been the best but I've had some really good Carrie and some sweet tart from Area 51 Palm City. From my own trees which is still early I'm just starting to pick Dwarf Hawaiian. I had a early bloom M4 drop that I had finny for probably 7 days. Totally expected to be sour immature but was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was. No note of coconut as of yet but I'm pretty stoked about M4. I have Dot and OS sitting on the counter so stay tuned things are cranking up in 9B. There's a good chance I will get to sample Black Julie for it second season of fruiting. Oh yes and Super Julie was superb

You are on to a good thing. P22 is a Future’s Top 50 mango. I have a source who says he has it and thank goodness as I haven’t had the privilege in years. The last time I had it I shared some with a friend. It was among about 6 mangoes. We ate and ate but when they got to this one…there was a big pause. After the silent savourriny they asked, what’s that mango?  It stands out. Looking forward to getting my hands on it again.

Also, I note you are an hour from me. We should consider connecting.

Sounds like a plan I'll contact you when the Marc Anthony is at Peak. Last season was not it's best flavor-wise. They seem to be bigger this year so hopefully we can get a good sampling for you. We can come down your way or you could come up here. Actually was visiting the mother tree today we had a small sampling of what I recently got from Palm City.





Marc Anthony seedling of Bombay


Black Julie seedling of Jamaican Blackie potentially pollinated by Julie. Seed brought from Jamaica 15 years ago by my brother🙂

[Future]

Welcome to Volume 12.

Caveat: it’s not 2012 anymore and time to detail each and every mango just isn’t there like days gone by.  But, I will chime in on what’s hitting the mark in 2024, and what isn’t, plus end with a top 10 for the year. Let the games begin.

I'm hoping you have an opportunity to try P22 lot of hype lot of chitter chatter. I will get to sample it the first time probably in July because my brother from another mother has that tree. So far buttercream has been the best but I've had some really good Carrie and some sweet tart from Area 51 Palm City. From my own trees which is still early I'm just starting to pick Dwarf Hawaiian. I had a early bloom M4 drop that I had finny for probably 7 days. Totally expected to be sour immature but was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was. No note of coconut as of yet but I'm pretty stoked about M4. I have Dot and OS sitting on the counter so stay tuned things are cranking up in 9B. There's a good chance I will get to sample Black Julie for it second season of fruiting. Oh yes and Super Julie was superb

You are on to a good thing. P22 is a Future’s Top 50 mango. I have a source who says he has it and thank goodness as I haven’t had the privilege in years. The last time I had it I shared some with a friend. It was among about 6 mangoes. We ate and ate but when they got to this one…there was a big pause. After the silent savourriny they asked, what’s that mango?  It stands out. Looking forward to getting my hands on it again.

Also, I note you are an hour from me. We should consider connecting.

Sounds like a plan I'll contact you when the Marc Anthony is at Peak. Last season was not it's best flavor-wise. They seem to be bigger this year so hopefully we can get a good sampling for you. We can come down your way or you could come up here. Actually was visiting the mother tree today we had a small sampling of what I recently got from Palm City.





Marc Anthony seedling of Bombay


Black Julie seedling of Jamaican Blackie potentially pollinated by Julie. Seed brought from Jamaica 15 years ago by my brother🙂

Good man. PM me your contact info. I’m an hour north of you for the next little while. Trekking south and back every 10-15 days or so.

[Future]

Po Pyu Kalay and Taymour have officially joined the party. I found some much better quality lemon zest but so far am still chasing highs from years ago with them.Taymour just might be thE finest Egyptian Mango there is. And I’ve had a good few. It’s got a sweet aroma and subtle hints in and overall but fine flavor profile. A ripe one feels like eating a succulent candy. They tend to get spots when ripe for me so far, remaining fine on the inside. It’s in my top 20 mangoes (at the high teens) for a reason.

I’ve worked with 230 plus mangoes since 2010 and PPK ranks #2 all time on Future’s Fave Fifty. It’s that good. As soon as you cut a ripe one it introduces itself, bleeding juice and citrus perfume. And the taste doesn’t disappoint. I’ve like an Orange crush ice cream on steroids. Small fruit, big punch.

[Future]

It took more than a dozen tries to finally find two lemon zest mangoes in prime form. I was beginning to wonder if LZ was going the way of fruit punch and losing its original flavor profile after years knocking socks off.

Taymour, Buttercream, Phoenix, Cac, Dot, PPK, ValCarrie, and Guava continue to rule so far this year. I don’t normally sample mangoes so early in June so let’s see if the near enough July crops pleases…or if recent rains leave them as teases.

[fliptop]

Interesting that Pineapple Pleasure only earned a "good" rating -- we had the opportunity to try some a few years ago and they were outstanding. I'm not a big fan of the acid component, but they were phenomenal, and became my girlfriend's favorite immediately. Have you had any that ranked higher than good?

[Future]

Interesting that Pineapple Pleasure only earned a "good" rating -- we had the opportunity to try some a few years ago and they were outstanding. I'm not a big fan of the acid component, but they were phenomenal, and became my girlfriend's favorite immediately. Have you had any that ranked higher than good?

They have been almost bland. Barely any acid and only pineapple hints. Perhaps too early in the season, perhaps the rains. Mind you others grown alongside them have been thumpin good mangoes. Had a mind crushing Phoenix yesterday. Rich, sweet, complex and creamy. Tough to beat. P-22 was the one that got away.

Went shopping today so now have Orange Sherbet, Ewais, White Piri, Piña colada and many more to enjoy.

[Future]

This just in

- Herbie
- Piña colada
- Extrema
- M4
- Baptiste
- Amy
- Cotton candy
- Orange sherbet
- White Pirie
- Ewais
- Shwe Ya Za Ma
- Orange Essence
- Gary
- Orange Essence

Finally the Lemon Zest are working their magic. The ones I got from CookieMonster have been terrific.  If you can get down to him for fruit, you’ve done well.

[Future]

A mango called Seminole.  Never heard of it?  You should soon.  Verna Zill put aside a few for me.  It's medium sized with yellow skin with a beautiful pink blush.  What immediately impressed is the sap.  She invited me to smell it and...I saw why.  it's smells like a kid's candy.  Sickly sweet, if there is such a smell, yet complex and fruity.  The flavor lived up to it.  Dense, sweet, juicy and just plain good.  Now some customers have tried to persuade Verna it tastes similar to East Indian.  It doesn't.  They have tried to persuade her to call it West Indian.  She shouldn't.  Stick with Seminole.  It's a great new mango offering that I hope to see propagated soon. 

Oh.  And its polyembryonic...

In my next post I'll share a story about the mango I had last Friday from FLNative that was...the sweetest I've ever had in 14 years on the hunt for the world's finest mangoes.

Others we've hit since include Venus, Giselle, Yi Xuan, Amy, Beverly, Mesk, mario, Zill O-29, Honey Kiss, Juliette, Julie, Duncan and one helluva incredible set of Zill Indochinese.  There's a reason its top 3 all time.

[elouicious]

In my next post I'll share a story about the mango I had last Friday from FLNative that was...the sweetest I've ever had in 14 years on the hunt for the world's finest mangoes.

Color me intrigued

[ben mango]

A mango called Seminole.  Never heard of it?  You should soon.  Verna Zill put aside a few for me.  It's medium sized with yellow skin with a beautiful pink blush.  What immediately impressed is the sap.  She invited me to smell it and...I saw why.  it's smells like a kid's candy.  Sickly sweet, if there is such a smell, yet complex and fruity.  The flavor lived up to it.  Dense, sweet, juicy and just plain good.  Now some customers have tried to persuade Verna it tastes similar to East Indian.  It doesn't.  They have tried to persuade her to call it West Indian.  She shouldn't.  Stick with Seminole.  It's a great new mango offering that I hope to see propagated soon. 

Oh.  And its polyembryonic...

In my next post I'll share a story about the mango I had last Friday from FLNative that was...the sweetest I've ever had in 14 years on the hunt for the world's finest mangoes.

Others we've hit since include Venus, Giselle, Yi Xuan, Amy, Beverly, Mesk, mario, Zill O-29, Honey Kiss, Juliette, Julie, Duncan and one helluva incredible set of Zill Indochinese.  There's a reason its top 3 all time.

That’s cool about the sap smell. What else is in your top 3? Ppk? And?

[Future]

A mango called Seminole.  Never heard of it?  You should soon.  Verna Zill put aside a few for me.  It's medium sized with yellow skin with a beautiful pink blush.  What immediately impressed is the sap.  She invited me to smell it and...I saw why.  it's smells like a kid's candy.  Sickly sweet, if there is such a smell, yet complex and fruity.  The flavor lived up to it.  Dense, sweet, juicy and just plain good.  Now some customers have tried to persuade Verna it tastes similar to East Indian.  It doesn't.  They have tried to persuade her to call it West Indian.  She shouldn't.  Stick with Seminole.  It's a great new mango offering that I hope to see propagated soon. 

Oh.  And its polyembryonic...

In my next post I'll share a story about the mango I had last Friday from FLNative that was...the sweetest I've ever had in 14 years on the hunt for the world's finest mangoes.

Others we've hit since include Venus, Giselle, Yi Xuan, Amy, Beverly, Mesk, mario, Zill O-29, Honey Kiss, Juliette, Julie, Duncan and one helluva incredible set of Zill Indochinese.  There's a reason its top 3 all time.

That’s cool about the sap smell. What else is in your top 3? Ppk? And?

PPK and #LemonZest

[Future]

In my next post I'll share a story about the mango I had last Friday from FLNative that was...the sweetest I've ever had in 14 years on the hunt for the world's finest mangoes.

Color me intrigued

So I stopped by fLNative to pick up a few mangoes. He had one that was clearly a Pickering and the other an un identified fruit. He speculated the unidentified was possibly to be a Pickering that had fallen and had a flat pose, but to me it looked more like an oddly shaped lemon zest, I ate the unidentified mango with the following day. Other than the tip it was perfectly ripe. And it was absolutely ridiculously sweet. I mean drinking straight treacle (a British refined liquid sugar) sweet. I contacted Frank to double back to make sure it wasn’t a mango he purchased from outside and mixed up with his own (he was at Walter’s that day). We worked on trying to figure out the identification. I also reached out to Alex and sent him pictures to see if he could figure out what it was. Serendipitously, Frank went out yesterday and found an identical fruit under the tree and in his words “WOW, that is the best mango of the season.  Super sweet”

The tree that he found the fruit under was…

…Cac.

Cac already sits at #10 all time on Future’s Favorite Fifty.

But like this?  Even Lemon Zest is at risk if we can replicate this effect.

Now what we’ve figured out is, a tree ripened Cac seems to go over the top on sugar.

Alex confirms he’s experienced this before. This was so sweet it’s worth…rigging up squirrel proof gear to replicate in 2025.

Always something new to learn.

[FLnative]

In my next post I'll share a story about the mango I had last Friday from FLNative that was...the sweetest I've ever had in 14 years on the hunt for the world's finest mangoes.

Color me intrigued

So I stopped by fLNative to pick up a few mangoes. He had one that was clearly a Pickering and the other an un identified fruit. He speculated the unidentified was possibly to be a Pickering that had fallen and had a flat pose, but to me it looked more like an oddly shaped lemon zest, I ate the unidentified mango with the following day. Other than the tip it was perfectly ripe. And it was absolutely ridiculously sweet. I mean drinking straight treacle (a British refined liquid sugar) sweet. I contacted Frank to double back to make sure it wasn’t a mango he purchased from outside and mixed up with his own (he was at Walter’s that day). We worked on trying to figure out the identification. I also reached out to Alex and sent him pictures to see if he could figure out what it was. Serendipitously, Frank went out yesterday and found an identical fruit under the tree and in his words “WOW, that is the best mango of the season.  Super sweet”

The tree that he found the fruit under was…

…Cac.

Cac already sits at #10 all time on Future’s Favorite Fifty.

But like this?  Even Lemon Zest is at risk if we can replicate this effect.

Now what we’ve figured out is, a tree ripened Cac seems to go over the top on sugar.

Alex confirms he’s experienced this before. This was so sweet it’s worth…rigging up squirrel proof gear to replicate in 2025.

Always something new to learn.

[FLnative]

In my next post I'll share a story about the mango I had last Friday from FLNative that was...the sweetest I've ever had in 14 years on the hunt for the world's finest mangoes.

Color me intrigued

So I stopped by fLNative to pick up a few mangoes. He had one that was clearly a Pickering and the other an un identified fruit. He speculated the unidentified was possibly to be a Pickering that had fallen and had a flat pose, but to me it looked more like an oddly shaped lemon zest, I ate the unidentified mango with the following day. Other than the tip it was perfectly ripe. And it was absolutely ridiculously sweet. I mean drinking straight treacle (a British refined liquid sugar) sweet. I contacted Frank to double back to make sure it wasn’t a mango he purchased from outside and mixed up with his own (he was at Walter’s that day). We worked on trying to figure out the identification. I also reached out to Alex and sent him pictures to see if he could figure out what it was. Serendipitously, Frank went out yesterday and found an identical fruit under the tree and in his words “WOW, that is the best mango of the season.  Super sweet”

The tree that he found the fruit under was…

…Cac.

Cac already sits at #10 all time on Future’s Favorite Fifty.

But like this?  Even Lemon Zest is at risk if we can replicate this effect.

Now what we’ve figured out is, a tree ripened Cac seems to go over the top on sugar.

Alex confirms he’s experienced this before. This was so sweet it’s worth…rigging up squirrel proof gear to replicate in 2025.

Always something new to learn.

Mango photos of the Cac compared to a Lemon Zest.


I thought the Cac mango season was finished for my yard and the unidentified mango was either a LZ or Pickering. When I heard it had no citrus notes, I thought Pickering. Then another Cac mango that was hidden in the canopy dropped. Definitely was the sweetest mango I ever tasted.

[johnb51]

I'm so happy we planted Cac at the relative's house in PSL. 

[Coconut Cream]

With a name like Cac, it's gotta be delicious, um, right???

[simon_grow]

Great updates!

I’m glad Lemon Zest made it back on your excellent list. The trinity of Lemon Zest, Orange Sherbet and PPK usually make it to my top ten list along with Sweet Tart, Venus, E4, Pina Colada and Pineapple Pleasure.

CAC has also blown my mind on a few occasions but when I over watered my trees, they are good but not great. I’m going to keep my CAC trees on the dry side this year. Keep up the great reviews Future!

Simon