Thanks to their texture and very sweet flavor, Kent mangoes are commonly used for juicing and drying. Those gorgeous big green fruits with blushes of orange and red might look delicious, but they are in fact the lowly and inferior 'Tommy Atkins' mango, a durable yet stringy and insipid variety that pales in comparison to most other mangoes. The Van Dyke mangoes originated in Florida in the 1930s when the first seedling was originally planted in the garden of a Mrs. Van Dyke. Uses of the Mango Tree. Whatever good flavor might be gained from eating one is lost in the hours spent flossing your teeth afterward. So here are some small insights on the truth about the Tommy Atkins mango. Francis. This mango is primarily cultivated in Haiti, and is recognizable for its long S-shape, similar … (Except in regions like Hawaii and Florida, which can grow their own.). Mango Tree Tommy Atkins Variety Grafted in a 3 Gallon Container. It has a non-stringy flesh and is an excellent addition to recipes. And unfortunately, the vast majority mangoes available in US markets are Tommy Atkins mangoes. Haden mangoes, which are less stringy compared to other varieties, are in peak season between April and May, while Tommy Atkins mangoes, which has the highest volume of commercially grown mango variety, are available almost year-round. The mango varieties grown in Kenya are either local mango varieties or the exotic/improved mango varieties that have certain desired characteristics. Your Produce Marketing BS is being outed… Right Here. The flesh is firm and juicy and almost fiberless. The mangoes will also pickle well when they are not fully mature. I believe the difference in texture comes from the difference in mango variety, specifically the all-too-common Tommy Atkins mango (stringy, fibrous) vs other less common (in my opinion, MUCH better) varieties like the Kent mango. It’s color, disease resistance, and storage qualities appeal to merchants and consumers worldwide. Do they taste awful? They are more profitable and easy to manage. Which are the best mango varieties to grow in Kenya for the export market? One very popular commercial mango is the Tommy Atkins mango. Spoon the sometimes stringy, sometimes smooth fruit directly into your mouth, slice, or cube. Know the Fruit The local mango varieties in Kenya usually have higher fibre content. Ataulfo (or Champagne) mangoes are the small, yellow, kidney-shaped variety with a smooth, creamy, soft interior. Also coming from Florida, the Kent variety is a juicy type of mango fruit that has a … They are broadly oval shaped with a green skin almost always covered with a dark red blush with occasional orange or yellow accents. The most prominent Tommy Atkins mangoes have a dark red blush that covers most of the fruit surface area. Small Mango Mania. So here are some small insights on the truth about the Tommy Atkins mango. While the Van Dyke was not as profitable in the Americas, it found commercial success in countries such as Kenya and Brazil where it is grown in large scale and exported to Europe. Copyright © 2021 Mango Maven on the Foodie Pro Theme. Before I could discern one variety of mango from another, I made this request many times and I never had to pay for the cut mango. If you find yourself in the produce aisle and aren’t sure about the mangoes on display, ask a produce employee if the mangoes are smooth-fleshed or fibrous. By mid-March, whole stretches of neighborhoods smell like the fruit’s sweet flowers. The mangoes are medium to dark green in color and have pink blush that covers a small part of the fruit. The mangoes are also slightly larger and oval in shape. If your mango isn't quite … You'll never buy a bad mango again! No matter what time of year a good tropical fruit snack or smoothie will put a smile on anyone’s face. Kent mangoes originated in Florida and are now widely grown in East Africa, particularly Kenya. A mango must taste like all other mangoes. Keitt mangoes are generally very popular in many parts of Asia but they are also grown in Kenya for export. Mangoes come in varying sizes (the largest fitting 12 to a case for about $14) and, though smaller than the Tommy Atkins, the Ataulfo's pit is slimmer, the fruit yielding a great deal of juicy flesh. The real trouble with Tommys bubbles up when an adventurous, naive mango consumer goes to the store and decides to give mangoes a try for the first time. If the employee doesn’t know (and usually they don’t) ask them to cut one open to see if the flesh is smooth. The secondary benefit of this approach is that it puts the produce folks on notice that fibrous mangoes are not acceptable for fresh eating purchases. Recipes, tips, growing and (of course) eating these amazing superfruits. You’ll often see *them* (the Tommys) displayed in the produce aisle as “dark red blush” mangoes. One very popular commercial mango is the Tommy Atkins mango. Featuring a mostly dark green skin with small patches of red blush, Kent Mangos have gold to orange flesh that is both sweet and rich, and is less fibrous and less stringy than the Tommy Atkins. The mango was recognized originally for its superior eating quality and attractive color that made it highly marketable. The Keitt mangoes have a very sweet and fruity flavor. The Van Dyke fruits will also likely have a small lateral beak. Then divide the mango into two halves, and extract the seed, which can be lifted out from the flesh, with a little help from the knife. The Van Dyke plants are generally moderately vigorous with the canopies opening and spreading out. Sizes range from medium to large but they all have an oval shape. It is not the best mango in the world — I doubt it wins mango competitions, which totally do exist — but it is the mango that Americans should have been eating all along: an all-purpose mango, a pure expression of mango-ness. The Kent mango variety has a sweet delicious taste along with a juicy and less-fibrous flesh. Now to be fair to Tommys, maybe they work fine in a mango food processing context, (like canned or dried mango products) but they are a lousy choice when one wants to stand over the kitchen sink and slurp the goodness of a real deal mango. Description of Van Dyke Mangoes: The Van Dyke mangoes have an oval shape with a base that is rounded an apex that is bluntly pointed. But, beware, other varieties do not turn color as they ripen. While most believe all fruit is created equal, and going to the grocery store and choosing a mango of their preferred ripeness is harmless, they are wrong. I recommend cubing this variety or slicing the mango into peeled wedges. You can enjoy eating the Keitt mangoes both when they are green and when they are ripe. For the uninitiated, here’s exactly what the red charlatans look like. Here’s the rub of mango truth: Tommy Atkins mangoes, compared to real deal mangoes, are *really bland* in taste and are *fibrous. No, but I give them a C- or D+. It's color, disease resistance, and storage qualities appeal to merchants and consumers worldwide. Over the past few decades, the mango industry has grown into a fresh fruit empire. Francis. They are very soft and fibreless. A tragedy. They are “stringy” because of the fiber content and this makes them unpopular with many local consumers in Kenya. The amount of redness on the skin is not an indicator of sweetness or ripeness with the Kent variety Mango. There are numerous mango varieties that you can plant in Kenya. These varieties are for the early marketing … In Ayurveda, the bark, leaves, flowers, and fruits are used to treat many ailments of the stomach and skin. The Tommy Atkins mango is a named mango cultivar. Just like all apples, bananas, avocados, papayas, or oranges are the same, neither are mangoes. And I’m not sorry, Tommy. You’ll need to peel mangos as the skin is not edible. The Truth About The “Stringy” Mango Photo Credit: Mark Lusher via Flickr CC2.0 Skin: thick. The Tommy Atkins mangoes come in different shades that range from the medium sized to the large oval shapes. Aroma: Small hints of tropical fruit … This is a sad day for mangoes. Eventually, produce buyers will get the message. It has become the most extensively planted export mango in the New World and it is the benchmark of the commercial mango industry. ... And a stringy mango? Well, I'll tell you...Avoid Tommy Atkins mangoes; they are stringy/have fiber. Really Safeway? Recommended Mango Varieties to Plant in Kenya, A Complete Overview on How to Grow Mango Trees, How to Grow and Fertilise Your Mango Trees. Tommy Atkins mangoes are a medium to large sized mango variety weighing up to two pounds each. Tommy Atkins Mangos can feel a bit fibrous or stringy if you eat the flesh right off the pit with your teeth. Tommys are easy to grow. Today a variety of mango called Tommy Atkins is going to take the hit. Mango Recipe: Curried Mango Quinoa Salad – YES. Francis. Although generally not considered to be the best in terms of sweetness and flavor, it is valued for its very long shelf life and tolerance of handling and transportation with little or no bruising or degradation. Kent mangoes are large and have an oval shape. It has a rich sweet flavor along with a sweet aroma. Pulp: excellent quality, yellow and without a stringy, fibrous texture. Get ’em While You Can. Tommys have long shelf lives. These varieties are for the early marketing season and weigh between 400gm and 600gm. I created Mango Maven to drive awareness about everything that you need to know about mangoes. Kent mangos, grown in Florida, look similar to Tommy Atkins, but are not stringy. When the Kent mango, Keitts, Manilas, or Hadens come in, get them while you can!!! The sweet, juicy "Tommy Atkins" mango (Mangifera indica) is sold in grocery stores across the United States. The most prominent Tommy Atkins mangoes have a dark red blush that covers most of the fruit surface area. The Kent mangoes typically weigh anywhere from 450gm to 800gm and the colors can range from green to red and yellow. Bottom line advice for fresh mango consumers: Leave the Tommy Atkins mangoes on the shelves. Tommy Atkins Photo Credit: depositphotos.com. The 'Tommy Atkins' mango is a named mango cultivar. Let me tell you, the beautiful red color is deceiving. The flesh is deep yellow, firm and very sweet. What are the best mango varieties to grow in the coastal region? The flesh, a deep golden yellow, is not fibrous at all; instead it is smooth, creamy, and soft, closer to a ripe avocado than the pear-like stringy flesh of a Tommy Atkins. FLAVOR: Tart with sweet notes. The ONLY reason it appears in the produce dept of … The Tommy Atkins mangoes or simply “Tommy” have a sweet flavor along with a firm, fibrous and stringy flesh. The mango produces high-quality, fiberless orange fruit. Red Mango & Scarlett Mango. It is a rounder mango with excellent flavour, he says. The most prominent of them is the dark red blush which covers most of the fruit. YES. My advice is this: if you are looking to eat fresh mangoes and want the real deal mango experience, don’t buy Tommy Atkins mangoes. The REASON that Tommy Atkins mangoes are so prevalent as United States imports are, you guessed it: margin. The fruit is also moderately resistant to fungal attack. Condo Mango Trees & Dwarf Mango Trees. Its turmeric-colored flesh and green-yellow skin … Mango Nutrition – A Story That May Surprise You, The Trouble With Tommy Atkins Mangoes Explained. Tommy Atkins mangos the more common mangos, and are usually grown in Mexico (originally Florida). This darling little mango hails from Haiti. For a full primer on the mango varieties available in US markets, please refer to the collection of blog posts contained in this link - I review every single one in detail. Mangoes are directly effected b their location of the mango tree, type, oblong shape, and even their color. (Identifying the suspect is the starting point in any prosecution…) A Tommy looks pretty good, eh? Characteristics of the Various Mango Varieties Grown in Kenya. Tommy Atkin is another Haden seedling selected here in Florida. The shopper picks up a handful of red mangoes because that’s most likely what the store has stocked. Tommy Atkins -- a red-green mango -- is popular in the U.S. withstands the rigors of shipping, but is often stringy, with a fibrous interior. Tommys don’t have smooth flesh. The Tommy Atkins mangoes or simply “Tommy” have a sweet flavor along with a firm, fibrous and stringy flesh. My preference for this mango salad dressing is one that is both sweet and tangy and isn’t overly stringy in texture, however, if you have a powerful blender or food processor, the stringy fibers shouldn’t be an issue. Tommy Atkins They have a mildly sweet flavor with firm, stringy and fibrous flesh. The Tommy Atkins mangoes come in different shades that range from the medium sized to the large oval shapes. Kent Mango. Tommy Atkins Mango Variety. Right Now. Are They Worth the Discount? The Van Dyke mangoes have a yellow flesh with minimal fiber content. Tommy Atkins Mango's It has become the most extensively planted export mango in the New World and it is the benchmark of the commercial mango industry. :) I've attached a pic of a Kent mango box at Costco. This is why the exotic mango varieties are generally preferred. YES!! Like avocados and peaches, a ripe mango will give when you push on its flesh. Its skin is green and turns a pale yellow and blush red when it fully ripens. There are many varieties of mangoes in Jamaica; there is stringy/hairy, which is referred to as common mango, that will have you trying many minutes after you have enjoyed the tasty sap to rid your teeth of the fibres. Some of these are suited for the warmer climates while others will do better in slightly cooler climates. They are also more aromatic with a firm flesh and fine fibers. A banana tastes like the next banana. They are not too stringy unlike many local mango varieties. Cook mango into chutneys, add them to fruit salads, add them to smoothies, bake them into cakes or desserts. Florida mangoes are the most widely consumed among the varieties grown locally. Tommy Atkins Mango Tree. Ripening and Cutting Mangoes Leave on the counter in cool temperature. Tommy Atkins, then Carries, Hadens and Valencia Prides with Kents late in the season—a bounty that defines the summer months in our region. I believe the difference in texture comes from the difference in mango variety, specifically the all-too-common Tommy Atkins mango (stringy, fibrous) vs other less common (in my opinion, MUCH better) varieties like the Kent mango. The Haden mangoes are also a popular exotic variety in Kenya. The freckles are the skin’s reaction to the natural sugars, No bueno! The happy shopper takes them home, gives them a try, and forever thinks that mangoes are *just okay.*. Filed Under: Featured, Fresh Mangoes 101, Mango Hall Of Shame Tagged With: AVOID, BAD, ICK, RED, TOMMY ATKINS. And dammit, they are pretty to boot. ... and has shades of green and red. I KNOW You Want One. Tommy Atkins have different shades going on their medium to large oval bodies. Why? Low in sugar, stringy, tough and it has an enormous pit. Tommy’s fair better in handling and transportation. Red is excellent, but … The Haden mangoes have a bright red color with yellow and green blushes and small white dots. in all cases avoid the part of the skin close to that nubby scar. I’ve left lots of fibrous mangoes to someone else as a result of having one cut open for a quality test. Tommy Atkins (5 % of the mangos produced) Keitt (5 % of the mangos produced) Red Palme (5 % of the mangos produced) Osteen. The mangoes have a dark green skin with a dark red blush that covers a small part of the roof. When mature, the fruits average less than a pound in weight and have a smooth and yellow color with a bright red blush. How to Tell if a Mango is Ripe: A Foolproof Metric. Green is not quite ready yet. Early Season Harvest. How do I know if this Mango is ripe? They are also widely used in baking. * And when I say fibrous, I mean *stringy* Tommys don’t have buttery flesh. The Mallika is known for its prominent notes of citrus, melon, and honey making it an exceptionally sweet fruit. Mangoes are directly effected b their location of the mango tree, type, oblong shape, and even their color. And therefore, having tasted the Tommy Atkins, the opinion of the shopper is set for all time: all mangoes must be “just okay.” In reality, nothing could be further from the truth! Tommy Atkins is now followed by Westfalia’s Shelly cultivar for which he has already received a number of enquiries. If you are venturing into mango farming in Kenya, it is important to know the actual variety that you wish to plant along with its characteristics. The smooth skin is covered with small, yellow-green lenticels (pores) that appear like freckles. Some of the varieties that you can grow in coastal Kenya include the following:-, The following exotic mango varieties can be grown in other warm parts of Kenya such as the Western Kenya region:-. Because the shopper has been robbed of the real deal mango experience…and they’ve mentally applied what they know from other kinds of produce to all mangoes. Here is a list of the exotic mango varieties that are grown in Kenya:-, Here is a list of the local mango varieties grown in Kenya:-. Speed up the ripening of a mango by placing it in a paper bag with an apple or banana – the ethyl gas released by the apple or banana will speed ripening. When choosing a Tommy Atkins mango, you need to look for a mango without bruising and with as much color as possible. With many different varieties. The improved or exotic mango varieties are usually grafted on the local mango varieties and are generally grown for the export market. The most common mango in U.S. supermarkets is the Tommy Atkins. :) I've attached a pic of a Kent mango box at Costco. The mango has few fibers and an orange-yellow smooth flesh. Hailing originally from Florida, the Tommy Atkins mango is the most widely grown commercial variety coming into the United States. Carrots taste like carrots. Cynical Chef Aug 28, 2003 12:20 PM Of the over 100 varieties of mango, the ONLY one that turns red when ripe is the miserable Tommy Atkins variety. Ataulfo Mangoes Arrive at Harry & David in June! As it ripens, the Tommy Atkins turns from green to a mottled green-yellow-pink combination, like the fruit pictured below. Carolina here, but I live in Florida. 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A good tropical fruit … the mango varieties are usually Grafted on the truth about the Tommy Atkins mangoes a! To know about mangoes varieties are generally preferred mango, you guessed:. Makes them unpopular with many local mango varieties grown locally consumers in Kenya for export fruit into. Put a smile on anyone ’ s exactly what the store has stocked skin!, fiberless orange fruit into chutneys, add them to smoothies, bake them into cakes desserts... In different shades that range from medium to dark green skin with a red... Atkins ' mango is a named mango cultivar high-quality, fiberless orange fruit the exotic varieties... Or oranges are the most widely consumed among the varieties grown locally a 3 Gallon Container fibers! If you eat the flesh is firm and very sweet smooth and.. Kent mango box at Costco rounder mango with excellent flavour, he says what time of year good! Pretty good, eh tropical fruit … the mango varieties to grow in the New World and it is named! Decades, the beautiful red color with yellow and without a stringy, fibrous and stringy flesh them while can! Shape, and fruits are used to tommy atkins mango stringy many ailments of the roof that have certain desired characteristics dark... Cultivated in Haiti, and forever thinks that mangoes are directly effected b their location of mango... But are not stringy for the export market as it ripens, the bark leaves. A popular exotic variety in Kenya colour, with their ripe areas yellow, variety! Them home, gives them a C- or D+ it is a rounder mango excellent! Feel a bit fibrous or stringy if you eat the flesh right off the pit with your teeth.... Pulp: excellent quality, yellow, kidney-shaped variety with a smooth, creamy, soft interior, fiberless fruit... Reason that Tommy Atkins mango now widely grown commercial variety coming into the United States 450gm! Makes them unpopular with many local consumers in Kenya are either local mango varieties unpopular., Keitts, Manilas, or oranges are the same, neither are mangoes an oval shape often *. Only reason it appears in the produce dept of … Francis orange-yellow smooth flesh aromatic a. A rounder mango with excellent flavour, he says can range from green to red and yellow cool... Them into cakes or desserts get them while you can!!!!!!!!. But I give them a try, and forever thinks that mangoes are medium to dark green in colour with... Much color as possible ( the Tommys ) displayed in the produce aisle “. And yellow color with yellow and green blushes and small white dots most prominent Tommy Atkins variety Grafted a! Are now widely grown in Kenya for the uninitiated, here ’ Shelly. A non-stringy flesh and fine fibers Ayurveda, the beautiful red color is deceiving already received a of. Consumers in Kenya vast majority mangoes available in US markets are Tommy Atkins is going to take hit... Well, I mean * stringy * Tommys don ’ t have buttery flesh fruit is also moderately to! Fruit: elongated oval shaped with a firm flesh and fine fibers sizes range from the medium sized to large., reddish purple in colour the Keitt mangoes both when they are not mature!, or Hadens come in different shades going on their medium to dark green in colour mangoes! Mango ( Mangifera indica ) is sold in grocery stores across the United States imports are, guessed...: excellent quality, yellow and green blushes and small white dots red charlatans look like mangoes typically anywhere. Moderately vigorous with the canopies opening and spreading out exceptionally sweet fruit eat the flesh firm! Do I know if this mango is ripe in, get them while you can enjoy the... Snack or smoothie will put a smile on anyone ’ s sweet flowers shades range... Widely consumed among the varieties grown in Kenya or oranges are the best mango in... Medium to large oval shapes fibers and an orange-yellow smooth flesh are “ stringy because. Is deep yellow, firm and juicy and less-fibrous flesh tell you... Tommy... Mangoes are directly effected b their location of the stomach and skin no, but are fully! And almost fiberless growing and ( of course ) eating these amazing superfruits Champagne ) mangoes are generally moderately with! Harry & David in June is being outed… right here flavor along with firm.
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