Mangos originally grew in India over 5,000 years ago; today, a basket of mangos is still considered a sign of friendship there. Traders took mango seeds to Africa, Asia, and South America around 300 to 400 A.D.
Fun Facts
- Mangos are rich in vitamin A, which builds healthy eyes and bones; vitamin C, which is essential for healthy gums and teeth; and folate, an important nutrient for brain health.
- Mangos grow in hot, tropical climates. Most of the mangos we eat come from Mexico, Haiti, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Guatemala.
- Mangos are ripe when they give slightly when touched. Don’t buy mangos with sap on them.
- Place your mangos on a kitchen counter to ripen. Do not put them in the refrigerator.
- Mangos are delicious fresh, in fruit salads, or in salsa. They make a delicious sorbet. Try them grilled or with fish.
- Mangos are available in several varieties, ranging from red to green to yellow in color. They each have a slightly different taste and texture.
- Mango trees can grow over 100 feet tall. Mangos are related to pistachios and cashews.
- The fruit, pits, bark, and leaves of mangos have been used in folk remedies for hundreds of years.
Vocabulary
- Sorbet: a frozen fruit dessert
- Folk remedy: an old-fashioned treatment for illness
Questions and Answers
Question: Are there any other ways to eat mangos?
Answer: In Central and South America, mangos are often peeled and cut into long strips. The strips are placed on sticks and sold by street vendors. Imagine a big, juicy chunk of mango on a hot day.
Learn More
Watch a video on how to cut a mango.
