When we were younger, the start of the summer as well as the melodious voice of the koel signalled the onset of mango season. Now, with the hustle and bustle of city life with just sounds of traffic and construction, hearing the koel isn’t that common but our love for the ‘king of fruits’ remains as strong as ever. Having said that, the mango is one delicacy that is as polarizing as biryani.
Which is why right now foodies are engaged in heated #MangoWars on Twitter. The first shot fired was the opinion among many that Alphonso is overrated. People tried delving deeper into why that was the case and remarking that it may be due to its high price or extensive marketing.
Alphonso is the most over rated stuff you will ever come across. The brand-conscious Alphonso Babalog have no idea what real mango is. Try Dashahari, Chausa, Safeda and ultimate Langda/Malda.
I have fired the first bullet sardaar @SankarshanT . Let the war begin.#MangoWars
— Yashwant Deshmukh 🇮🇳 (@YRDeshmukh) April 11, 2021
A lot of ‘better’ varieties were suggested like Kesar, Langda and Dashehri.
To your Alphonso, I raise a Dussehri 🙂 the beauties you find only in Kolkata summers.
— Mitali Mukherjee (@MitaliLive) April 11, 2021
#Hapus may be overrated but best combination of #Keshar of Gujarat and #Mastani Missing Keshar Mastani of Pune in this stressful and hot summer #MangoWars pic.twitter.com/JeIoJiYZ6g
— Dr Navnath Gavhane IAS (@navnathias) April 11, 2021
Send me your address.. i ll send you homegrown South Gujarat Kesar from my orchard.. I am pretty sure this will end the disscussion and the war. Kesar in South Gujarat in particular is regarded as the king of Mangoes. #MangoWars
— Chintan Desai (@Savio309) April 11, 2021
Yes really Alphonso just because the name sounds european is favourite of our educated slave minded english speaking otherwise it’s just an average mango real variety of mango is from UP
— पं अमित शुक्ल (@Amit_shukla999) April 11, 2021
Very True.
Alphonso is a marketing creation. It’s high price make people think it is good.
It has no comparison with Langda and even with Chausa and Dashehri.
Give Langda and Dashehri same marketing level and once tasted, it will rule entire world.
— मुकेश (@mukeshxl) April 11, 2021
Alphanso is the variety used for maaza n other #mango flavoured products, but when eaten as a fruit, it has no comparison to the heavenly taste of Chausa, Dasshehri and Langda.. Don't say if you've not tried these varieties 🥭 #Mangoseason https://t.co/Y0ag1B344V
— Richa Vriksh (@richa_vriksh) April 11, 2021
Alphonso 🥭 is only good for display purposes at a Fruit Chat stall and a Juice Corner ..
Counter ke peeche, sab Langda ya Dashahari hi use karte hain apne mango shake mein !! https://t.co/yke5mF6BwJ
— Yo Yo Funny Singh (@moronhumor) April 11, 2021
Agree, Langra is just awesome….. although I have developed a taste for Banganapalli in recent years. Alphonso has a bad a hit rate, but the odd one can be brilliant. https://t.co/HR8VyAK07Y
— Sanjeev Sanyal (@sanjeevsanyal) April 11, 2021
Kesar mango from (Talala)Saurashtra it's equally good, Enough juice to fill your mouth in a single bite and sugary sweet with little bit tangy taste. https://t.co/bTQZBWTmO8
— Samm (@Samm91743307) April 11, 2021
However, supporters of Alphonso revealed the experience changes with variables like the time of eating which should ideally be after April and the unique flavour of a particular region i.e. Ratnagiri.
If you had eaten #Valsad and #Ratnagiri Alphonso, there would not been war on mango. #Kingalphonso
2nd would be #Kesar of Valsad/South Gujarat https://t.co/uvj5F66Lbr
— Ankur N. Gandhi (@Ankur_NG) April 11, 2021
I find the north Indian mango varieties too sweet without any sourness. Alphonso or rather Aapus as we Mumbaikars call it, has the right balance of sweetness and sourness and the smell is heavenly!!!
— Raju 🇮🇳 (@rajupu) April 11, 2021
Should Try Ratnagiri Devgad Alphonso Mangoes
King of Mangoes for a Reason
Hapus Aam is the best thing available in Summer ❤️
If one thinks Alphonso is Overrated
I’m sorry he has no Taste of Mangoes— NIKHIL GUPTA(PRINCE) (@nikhilprince98) April 11, 2021
Day before yesterday my brother in law sent 1 pati Ratnagiri Alphonso Mangoes from Sangli to Bengaluru. In mango season two times in a month my brother in law sends by bus parcel pic.twitter.com/oRVyhQhO4H
— Ajitadev Panditاجیتادیو پنڈت (@ajitadev) April 11, 2021
Nothing beats Alphonso. You need to know when to eat it. Most of the time people eat Alphonso in March April which is too early. Alphonso in may hands down beat any fruit in the world.
P.S. I am from kokan region. We eat naturally ripped Alphonso mangoes
— Rohan Lovalekar (@RohanLovalekar) April 11, 2021
Of course, people suggested regional varieties from their hometowns because we should savour all that our country has to offer.
Yup.. Try Amrapali (Dashahari × Neelum).. You'll forget Alphonso.
The Amrapali variety of Odisha ,Juicy ,smoothy, fleshy, sugarified and sweet aroma…Spontaneous watering of mouth with a instant effect, even from distance. 🥭
Try it.#mangowar #alphonso #amrapali #Odisha https://t.co/pGGS5Yk0lR pic.twitter.com/pfmE4LCsxU— anubhab_rout09🇮🇳(ଅନୁଭବ୍ ରାଉତ୍) Aunbɐhb (@anubhab_rout) April 11, 2021
One ripe Rajapuri's fragnance is good enough to beat down one dozen Alphonso.. hands down
Only the pros can take up a challenge of finishing of one full Rajapuri without letting the juice roll down/drop from your hands https://t.co/qcbXZT7Xjj— APURVA DANGI (@APURVA_DANGI) April 11, 2021
Malgova is the best mango variety…case closed pic.twitter.com/ylgfRbypgM
— Vinay (@Racervin) April 11, 2021
If you had not had the King – Himsagar of Bengal – you have not had mango in your sad life.
If Langda is Mahua Maitra then Himsagar is her Pishi.
— Righter (@CDMsays) April 11, 2021
There is Mallika in Karnataka. Mango lovers should definitely give it a try. Found it to be one of the best mango variety
— Jai Talreja (@jaitalreja27) April 11, 2021
#MangoWars Banganapalli mangoes are a rage in Tamilnadu & Andhra Pradesh!
— Ram Ram (@RamRam61945844) April 11, 2021
Sir, Amrapali is no. one mango.
World’s sweetest mango. pic.twitter.com/ZEyrUh13S9— #DNSINGH# (@dnsinghgt) April 11, 2021
No matter what your favourites are, one thing is certain – summer can’t be enjoyed to its fullest potential without trying at least a couple of different varieties of mangoes.