Foreigners sour on Alphonso as Kesar tempts all

The succulent, premium Alphonso is no longer the king of Indian mangoes in export markets.

- Dhirendra Kumar

That title goes to the humble Kesar, which has raked in more dollars than its expensive peer for two successive fiscal years.

Alongside, there has been a rise in exports of other affordable mango varieties such as Chausa, Dasheri, Totapari, Banganapalli, Kesar, and even non-branded mangoes. Data from the Union commerce ministry showed that the trend is playing out in markets like the US, the UK, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Germany, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen and the Netherlands, among others.

Traders say the trend mirrors a broader shift in demand patterns, especially in overseas retail chains and among Indian diaspora. Another factor that has played a part is that the non-Alphonso varieties have only recently been allowed into key export markets because of changes in farming practices in India to match their standards.