I apologize again for going MIA but I have a good excuse. I've been in India and have lots to tell you about. Specifically, I've been in Mumbai (Bombay) and Kerala. I kept asking friends before I left if I'd be there in time to taste the famed Alphonso Mango and I kept hearing conflicting reports. Mumbaikars now living in London were telling me "No, it's too early", and others saying, "Yes, and bring me back a box!"
So, it was one of the first things I looked into once I got to Mumbai. Mr. M and I instructed our driver (This is the best way to get around Mumbai, you hire a driver for the day. Ours cost about £28 for the whole day. A bargain when you think of all the hassle they save you from and the fact that their cars are air conditioned, an essential for Mumbai) to take us to Crawford Market (Mumbai's large fruit and veg market where they will rip you off because you aren't a local but this isn't such a hardship when the prices will still be a quarter of what the product would cost you at home).
Upon arriving at Crawford Market Alphonso Mangoes were everywhere.
Boxes of unripe ones were being packed into crates of straw and bought by wholesalers and savvy households who will buy these at a cheaper price then wait for peak ripeness before unpacking and enjoying. Then, also stalls upon stalls hawking mangoes at their peak to be eaten that day and also ones best to be eaten the next day or day after. I wouldn't know how to judge that kind of perfect ripeness but the gentleman at Vilas Dhoble fruit stand at Crawford is famous for it.
He sold me six, two to be eaten immediately, two for the day after, and two for our third day in Mumbai. I excitedly carried my purchase back (along with some freshly ground spice mixes from one of the Crawford Market spice stalls. Apparently, saffron powder is good for both joints and pregnant women and fenugreek helps women who have just given birth with lactation. I happen to be pregnant and the ayurvedic knowledge in the spice seller poured out for my benefit. He was happy to share the information as it benefited his sales!).
Later that evening, in a family tradition (my dad's side of the family is from Hawaii and grows mangoes in their gardens) I drew myself a bath and got in to peel the mango. If you are going to enjoy the mango by yourself, this is a great way to do it. A) the mango juice that runs down your chin and down your arms won't get all over your clothes, B) you don't have to mind about the mess you can easily wash yourself off C) and lastly, mango juice is actually good for your skin. So you get a spa treatment as well as enjoy your mango. I simply let the silky peels drop into the water (I had brought a serrated peeler with me from London in anticipation of doing this) and then took my first bite. Alphonso Mangoes are a deep yellow orange colour and the flesh is sorbet smooth, not fibrous at all. Sweet, intense mango flavour with tart accents. Tremendously juicy... and oh so lovely. This is a great mango.
I shared the rest of my booty with Mr. M over the next few days and I was told by other Mumbaikars that I was lucky to be in Mumbai to catch the beginning of the Alphonso season but the mangoes only get better as the weather gets hotter and their peak of sweetness would be in May. So, if you're going to India over the next month, don't miss buying as many as you can eat.
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