The 411 on Champagne Mangoes

Since there is a change of plan, and I decided to make mango sorbet from the mango puree, I made intially for a mango mousse dessert for Passover, I wish to give you the 411 on this fantastic variety. By now I, mostly consumed these luscious, creamy, sweet mangoes for a snack. We went through two cases so far.

 
Whole Foods, better not raise the price, advertised in store, 10 for $10, but when I went to the cash register the girl was kind to enough to inform me that if I get a case, total of 18, it's just under $13. I paid for a case, and went right back in to add eight to my loot. It did in fact feel like a loot with few curious glares I got as I walked right out of the store and plumped them gently in my cart. Tweeting this it seems like an incredible price for these prized mangoes. Make sure they are extra ripe to get the full sweetness.

The Champagne mangoes are of Ataulfo variety named after Chiapas, Mexico, mango grower Ataulfo Morales Gordillo. A hybrid of cross pollination of few mango trees in Chiapas, Mexico. Growing in fertile volcanic ash soil. Indigenous to Southern and Central Mexico bordering Guatemala. Weather and South Pacific breezed ideal climate for growing these mangoes. I mostly got my information through googling, this is an excellent commercial site for the Champagne mangoes with wealth of information on ripening stages, cutting instructions, history and more.

Twitter friends were integral part of sharing their knowledge and yes lust for mangoes, from reminiscing about Filipino varieties and love for everything mangoes with funny girl Lala hailing from Canada, her twitter mommy Annapet from Northern California, TangleNoodle enjoying mangoes in season as we speak in Manila and Leela too wherever she is now, Thailand, Chicago, who knows?! Also spoke to Manisha who brings to us India by way of Colorado everything mangoes. I also wish to thank Manisha for the absolute surprise package that arrived in the mail yesterday with three bars of Colorado chocolates, I already had a delicious tasting of the dark chocolate, almond sea salt bar, yum! Manisha also unselfishly shared with me some of her precious garam masala and organic kokums, from Konkan and Goa, she brought back from a recent trip to India. I am humbled as I know she doesn't travel back home every year. Thank you Manisha!! Last but not least, Jean A Southern Californian American Israeli and wordsandnosh.

Was really interesting to learn your mango preferences and Filipinos eating mangoes with bagoong (fish, shrimp paste). Never heard of that before!! :) As you can tell, as we plowed through two cases, best to consume FRESH! :) Now only a matter of a Passover post remains...

39 comments:

  1. I'm so in love with these mangoes. I'm usually very generous...but there are a few things that turn me into a monster.

    Then J3 came along and I had to share. Motherhood.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yum, I adore Mangoes! :) Beautiful pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely pictures! Yet to sink in my teeth in these luscious mangoes..season starts in May.

    ReplyDelete
  4. excellent pictures. I love, love, love mangoes. Can't wait!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ahaha Annapet, we are so similar, only you in a smaller more concentrated package!! Kids do change us for the better always!! :)
    Thanks Marnley, I do love shooting raw ingredients. thank you!
    Thanks Sanjeeta, I cannot even imagine the endless varities in India, as all mangoes originated in the sub continent. OMG Am I jealous when as season starts in India!! :) Also of An hailing from bombay! Thanks An!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't think I have a mango preference... I just love them! So refreshing in the summer... blended for cocktails, chopped for salsa. I love it all!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you, Shulie for a wonderful post. I grew up with these sweet gems, Manila Mangoes or Champagne have the buttery texture which other mangoes don't have. Best as a snack or dessert, this is clearly my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yum I love mango - refreshing, sweet, delicious - but haven't seen the champagne variety around here. I'll have to check my local Whole Foods this weekend to see if perhaps they have them rather than my regular supermarket.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you Jun. Buttery is very descriptive & spot on of this variety. Only one that I had in the past surpasses, not counting Indian and others I am yet to explore, is the Maya. A random cross pollination variety out of Israel. Short season, small crop, exported only to Europe. Very prized! :) I do share your and ther rest love for everything mango. Grew up on it like you and many:).

    ReplyDelete
  10. I learned recently that the usual mangoes we eat here in the U.S. are sent to us from all over the world, because they are the least favorite and lowest in quality and taste. The rest of the world has been enjoying champagne mangoes and similar varieties for decades, while we were happy with the other ones:) I love the taste of champagne mangoes and their season is here!

    Love your photos and cannot wait to see what you prepared for Passover!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'll be on the lookout for these champagne mangoes (or any good lookin' mangoes)and I will know where to come to get a recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  12. lady, you and Annapet FORCED me to walk over to the store, with a sore back from doing lots of yoga, just so i can have mangoes.

    if you asked me where i was after you two went off, i could be found rummaging through the Ataulfo bins caressing each mango. no softies wanted. finally i came home with 4 green-ish mangoes (some for sour, others to ripen on my own like avocadoes), and one yellow as a treat.

    now we have this conference planned and i'm just absolutely beside myself. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  13. It seems there are lots of mango lovers in the world--count me one of them! The Whole Foods price is definitely a bargain. Sweet mangoes like your champagne variety here are wonderful but I also happen to like them green, unripe and dipped in bagoong, as you mentioned. Either way, mangoes are fab! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I wish you could come visit me in the summertime and we'll eat a mango or two together from my tree:)I love mango salso and my MIL just made mango gelato...so good:)GORGEOUS photos Shulie!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Just "stumbled" onto your blog...love mangoes! And I just saw champagne mangoes at the store the other day. I was curious about them, so I appreciate all the information. Especially about the Whole Foods price....that's an amazing deal!

    Are you by chance in the DC area...you mention Dupont Circle and Arlington. I was born in Alexandria, VA and still have family in the area. It's a beautiful area!! Can't wait to show it to my girls!

    Didn't know Lora was blessed with a mango tree in her yard...she lives not to far from me. :)

    Off to check out your lovely blog....
    Denise @ Creative Kitchen

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thx Deb. Let me know of you find them. Thx Lana. Boo! That explains a lot then. Very sad to hear that. Hi Megan, thx! I've got multiple mango recipes on my site. Couple of mango chutneys, mango salads, mango sorbet and maybe couple more, Check them out. Poor Lala, bad back and all went out about town to sate her mango cravings. You crack me up and I love our twitter mango force! LOL Thx Lora, I would love that!! OMGoodness the fun we would have!! Which variety do you have? Thx and welcome Denise, funny. small world!! Thank you Maria and Alison!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I remember seeing these in the store recently. I'm going to pick some up next time I go shopping, you've made me crave mangoes!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I hope you are still going to make the mango mousse because this goy loves it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I adore mangoes! And As I write this I am having a Alphonso mango creamy yogurt! Love this post!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I want a box full right now! I could sit at one go and finish them all! I am going to eat my heart out when i go back home this time! mango season there.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you @bigboysoven & Sylvie if you craved this after this post then my work here is done! :) Ken, ahahaha you always crack me up you favorite (righteous) gentile! lol I am tempted to fulfill your wish. Only thing we are in MA for Passover. Meeta, thank you so much, I must know alphonsos, googling for a refresher. Love creamy fruit yogurts! Thx Soma. Am sure. You are so lucky to go back to the homeland of the mango and season starts there in May. Scrumptuous!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have to admit that I'm not a huge mango fan. However, I do REALLY enjoy mango-flavored beverages. Maybe it's the texture of mangoes that I don't really like. Either way, it's great to learn about the origins and all the uses of foods.

    By the way, I have a food-loving beagle, too! His name is Moe :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thx Jean! Yup was very surprised to heat about the green sour mango I assume with shrimp paste combination. Reminds me, growing up, of guava and salt. Wonder if you had guava that way too?
    Thank you Sara. Mangoes were 'alien' in Israel when we were buying them by the case load, growing up. Yup, we were ridiculed often for eating them, aww right?!Really no biggie:) Funny how now most Israelies like mangoes and it's widespread. Some have fiberous texture try these champagne, buy one, make sure it's ripe the flesh is creamy non foberous...I take comfort in knowing you like it in a form of a beverage:). I love we have our beagles in common. You got Moe and I got Wizard. Definitely could write of their culinary adventures, well you took it already a step further.:)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm so excited about mangos!! I don't think I've ever tried champagne, but maybe I have as I've traveled through Chiapas. Just didn't know the type of mango I was eating I guess, but I love the fleshy, stringy-free quality of mangos in Mexico. My absolute favorite way to eat them? Some lime juice, sprinkle of salt and powdered spicy pico de gallo. Totally awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hmm, my favorite is the Keitt mango, from California. Just the right amount of sweetness, great flavor.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I've been eating and cooking with mangoes for years but have never bought these champagne mangos otherwise known around here as manilla mangoes. I'm leaving the house in a few and making a beeline to WF to check these out!

    ReplyDelete
  27. My trees are full of Nam Doc Mai mangoes, a Thai variety. They're my husband's faves, so we had to plant a couple of trees. Looks like I'll get a few Indian Neelums, this summer, too. Can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow, that is an incredible price on mangoes. It sounds like I need to head to Whole Foods right away. Great pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  29. 1. love the pics 2. love the info here 3. love mangos and 4. LOVE THE PRICE - WOW!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. That is a fantastic price! I would have bought a case too! Great info here on the mangoes...I think this is the variety I usually buy, but honestly, I'm not sure. Your sorbet looks delicious...I can imagine it is so fresh.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Couple of tidbits from twitter, Soma mentioned Alphonsos (see Meeta's comment) were showing up for first time in US a year ago. I will have her fill you in...
    Karen, it's plausible you had Champagnes if you traveled to Chiapa. Sounds like an Indian chutney only Mexican:) Never heard of powdered Pico de Gallo. How fantastic!
    @Indie.Tea love that you bring another variety to the mixture. Keitt, I always need to google for a refresher. Never remember:) Thx Kathy, lol now a beeline image at WF with you in is burnt in my mind:). Flaming Renee, Thx!! How cool you are growing it in your yard. Such perfect weather in FL for exotic fruits such as mangoes. Love the varities you brought to the discussion and jams you are gonna make with them! Thx Dara, I didn't grasp how incredible until everyone on twitter said so. I am always a bit suspicious of WH & treat any sale there w/a grain of salt, I know I shouldn't. Though am addicted to it WF that is:). Thx Debra, loved how you summed it in bullet points! You mean business!! My kinda girl focused! lol Thx Karen. The sorbet is wonderful!! Really refreshing!

    ReplyDelete
  32. We had found out from our local Indian grocery stores that the customs were allowing the Alphonso to come to India. Elated we were, (as these are the best mangoes ever found I would think), but the next summer (I think last to last year) they were selling at $5/1.and they did not even look that fresh.. which is understood. Well we did not get any. Instead we have been satisfying ourselves as always with the Alphonso Mango Pulp/puree sold in Indian Stores. They are really good!! Great for making desserts - tart, sorbet, ice cream, mango shrikhand (strained yogurt, mango puree, saffron and cardamom whipped together), mango shake, or just by itself.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thanks for this terrific post! Grew up with mango trees in our yard back in the Philippines. Here in the USA, I search high and low for Champagne Mangoes in the spring season. With GREEN MANGOES I make green pickled mangoes. Pls. see my August post in www.asianinamericamag.com. Or I also make a mean Green Mango Juice drink.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Mangoes are one of my favorite fruits ever. They are so delicious as is, but also great in savory and sweet dishes. The dried mangoes are also delectable.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I LOVE champagne mangoes! Your photos are just gorgeous as always Shulie. Now I feel like I NEED to buy some champagne mangoes. :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Shulie! I'm not sure how I missed this post! I loved sharing those treats with you. And, I can see how you are already making the most of the garam masala! Many hugs to you!

    ReplyDelete