How To Identify Real Vs Fake Mango? Guide To Pick Out The Authentic Lot This Summer Season

Mango, also referred to as the ‘King of the fruits,’ is enjoyed around the globe because of its rich texture and rich, juicy flavour. Their popularity usually increases during the summer season. While Indians can’t get over the fruit during the season, every Indian household usually stocks up this fruit in boxes to enjoy it in many forms.

Also Read: Meet India’s ‘Mango Man’, Father Of 300 Mango Varieties Grown On A Single Tree

From desserts to curries and pickles, the fruit has got it all. With the mango vibes subtly setting in, the increased rate of counterfeit mangoes is a growing concern among mango lovers. With Alphonso being one of the most loved mango variants, the authentic and high-quality mangoes are becoming hard to find.

With the artificially ripened mangoes available in the market, we have some tips and tricks for you. For all the mango lovers out there, we have rounded up some of the tricks that you can apply while picking your lot of mangoes this season.

Smell the mango

Real mangoes have a distinct, sweet and fragrant aroma that usually intensifies as it ripens. The scent will be a mix of tropical, floral and citrusy notes, and interestingly, if you smell near the step, you should be able to detect the ripe fruit’s fragrance. On the other hand, fake mangoes lack the natural fragrance of real mangoes and would definitely present a faint chemical smell due to artificial ripening agents.

Appearance

Artificially ripened mangoes tend to have a uniform colour and may appear more orange or yellow than naturally ripened mangoes. These mangoes have a slightly shiny appearance. Real mangoes are typically oval or kidney-shaped, and real mangoes have a smooth skin that is overly glossy. Fake mangoes are overly vibrant and don’t look natural at all.

Firmness

A real mango should feel firm yet yield slightly when pressed gently. The stem area of a real mango may have a slight indentation, and you should feel the softness of the fruit, especially near the stem or base, when it’s ripe. When it comes to fake mangoes, they feel unnaturally firm or stiff, lacking the gentle softness.

Taste

The taste of the real mango is comparatively rich, tangy and sweet, basically a combination of complex flavours. These juicy real mangoes have a slight tartness near the pit and present a creamy texture when fully ripe. Fake mangoes have overly sweet, bland or a strange artificial taste along with a rubbery texture.