Elsa Angel Rose
From February onwards, customers were rushing to markets to get the first taste of the Mancurad mango. “When you have a Mancurad, why would you need a Hapus, Bhishma, or a Manga Hilario? That’s the common sentiment in Goa.” But the exorbitant prices of the much-awaited Mancurad mangoes (now plummeting) might make one search for alternatives. “Goa’s favourite mango is Mancurad, so people will always have Mancurad first; only when they are cut off from the supply of Mancurad do they start having other mangoes. Hapus, Manga Hilario/Mangilal are all alternate options from Goa,” said Murad Khan, a fruit vendor from Panjim Market.
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The all-time favourite Mancurad
The beloved summer staple of Goa, Mancurad, originally Malcurada or Malcorada, originated from the Portuguese word “Malcorado,” meaning poor coloured. The word “Mal” translates to “bad,” while “Cor” translates to “colour” in the Portuguese language. With time, it became Mankurad aamo (mango) in the state language of Konkani. The fruit also possesses a GI tag, which was given in 2023. “Mancurad is the first fresh mango variety to ripen, so it reaches the finish line first in the race, making it the winner,” said Miguel Braganza, a horticultural expert. Certainly, people are glad the fruit has received a GI tag and recognition, but above all of this, Mancurad holds a nostalgic and deeply emotional value for Goans, one that is associated with their childhood memories of summers spent relishing the fruit. “The tangy taste appeals to children, and the childhood association of Mankurad being a good mango remains a happy memory until one’s dying day, even if diabetes reduces the number of Mankurad one can eat each day,” said Miguel.
What alternatives can you have to Mancurad?
If you love the mangoes (Mancurad), then certainly buy them. If not, then it’ll be more thrilling to try the other varieties, which are often overlooked. Hapus, Bhishma, Bism or Bishop Mango, Manga Hilario or Mangilal, and more are a few of the varieties available in the market. Hapus (Alphonso Mangoes), a variety which everyone is familiar with as the ‘King of Mangoes,’ is famous for its melt-in-the-mouth texture and sweet-tangy taste. Bhishma mangoes are widely popular for their huge size, but are often considered a mediocre fruit. According to public opinion, among all the alternatives, Mangilal is the closest look-alike and taste-alike to Mancurad. “Manga Hilario/Mangilal, a variety that originated in Siolim, is possibly the best in Goa. However, it ripens in May–June, by which time most people have eaten enough Mankurad mangoes to satisfy their craving,” said Miguel. Manga Hilario now has a GI tag, offering it the recognition it deserves. “Good Hilario mangoes are hard to get. Many fruits are infested with mango fruit fly maggots (worms) that have multiplied on earlier ripened varieties,” said Miguel.
Do the alternate varieties measure up to Mancurad?
Savouring the Mangilal would be totally worth it, given that it is equally sweet and pretty as the Mancurad. But what about the others? They are not always up to the mark. “Naturally ripened Hapus tastes close to Mankurad, and people often confuse the two. However, commercially sold Hapus are never naturally ripened. Hapus is artificially ripened. Ripening with ethylene gas generated from alcohol using a catalytic converter is legal. Unscrupulous traders also use Ethrel or other chemicals to dip mangoes for ripening. It is illegal but used. Since Hapus is not allowed to ripen naturally, it cannot match the taste. Bhisma, Bism or Bishop Mango is huge but tasteless. Malges or Malgesh mango has a poor shelf life: it ferments in a day or two after ripening. ‘Surela’ is the term we use in Konkani; it becomes like “Sur” or toddy,” Miguel shared his insights.
“The season of other mango varieties has already started, but sales are not rising because they are not as sweet as Mankurad or Mangilal, and also since these two varieties are available at a lower price recently, people don’t opt for the other varieties available in the market,” said Imtiaz Sheikh, another local fruit vendor at Panjim Market. Apart from the reality check above for all the alternatives, since the season of Mancurad is coming to an end, prices went down from thousands a dozen to hundreds, making people purchase the mangoes even more, and the other alternatives less. So, if you’re curious about what other mangoes taste like, give them a try, or stick to the comfort of Mancurad!
