Desserts That Will Make You Exclaim Go ManGo!

It is summer, the time when the king of fruits – Mango – makes its appearance and casts a magical spell on the entire populace, be they young or old. From children to senior citizens one finds everyone enjoying mangoes not only in its original format but also as desserts. Bakeries and F&B outlets vie with each other to create magical conceptions that will not only please the eye but also the taste buds. Ashok Malkani looks at the magical charm that mango desserts have not only in India but all around the globe. The list of desserts is endless and what is more – mangoes also have health benefits.

- Ashok Malkani

Mango, India's national fruit is not only popular within the country but is also well-liked and accepted globally. The start of summer heralds the much-awaited harvest season, from April to July, with the fruit bringing relief from the heat, of sorts, since it can be served as a cool drink or in a refreshing desert format. Mango is more than a fruit in India. It is an intrinsic part of the country's culture, found in religion, art, poetry and literature. Emperors have lusted after it, while poets have penned couplets extolling its virtue. In India, the entire population of over a billion people, eagerly await its seasonal arrival.

To know about the history of this exotic fruit one may quote Dr Indu Mehta, a professor of history at Kumaun University in Nainital who has, in her research paper, History of Mangoes - King of Fruits, stated, Scientific fossil evidence indicates that mango made its first appearance 25 to 30 million years ago in the northeast part of India, as indicated by its botanical name, Mangifera indica [meaning an Indian plant bearing mangoes], and took its current form around 4,000 years ago when it began to be cultivated.

Portuguese traders are credited for introducing the mango to the rest of the world. The Portuguese, when they arrived in India in the 15th century, were fascinated by this fruit which they referred to as manga (a combination of the Tamil word maam-kay and Malayalam word manga). The manga subsequently, became mango.

The Portuguese not only established international mango trade but also grafted specimen of trees which led to the creation of the most popular variety of mango the Alphonso named after the famous Portuguese general, Alfonso de Albuquerque (1453-1515).