The Science of Spice

148 Spice Profiles

Region of cultivation

Mangoes are native to India and Myanmar,

and over 40 per cent of the total world crop is

cultivated in India. Other major producers

include Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Thailand,

Indonesia, the Philippines, and Mexico.

The plant

Mango is a large

tropical evergreen tree

in the cashew family.

Whole

Dried slices are light brown and resemble

rough-textured wood. Store in a sealed

container in a cool, dark place for up to

4 months, and grind as needed.

Powder

Amchoor powder has a coarse texture

and is light beige in colour. It can be

stored for up to a year in a sealed container

away from sunlight.

BOTANICAL NAME

Mangifera indica

ALSO KNOWN AS

Mango powder, amchur.

MAIN FLAVOUR COMPOUND

Ocimene.

PARTS USED

Flesh of unripe fruits.

METHOD OF CULTIVATION

Unripe mangoes are harvested

mechanically or by hand.

COMMERCIAL PREPARATION

Fruits are peeled, sliced, and oven- or

sun-dried to remove 90 per cent of their

moisture, then packed as slices or ground.

NON-CULINARY USES

In Ayurvedic medicine to treat respiratory

diseases and digestive complaints.

CHINA

INDIA

BANGLADESH

MYANMAR

PAKISTAN

THAILAND

INDONESIA

PHILIPPINES

AMCHOOR

Citrus | Herbaceous | Bittersweet

Mangoes have been cultivated in

India for more than 4,000 years, and

are strongly linked to the Ayurvedic

system of traditional Indian medicine.

According to Hindu folklore they also

have sacred properties, and Ganesh,

the Hindi elephant-headed god, is

often shown holding a ripe mango as a

symbol of attainment. Buddhist monks

took mangoes to East Asia in the 4th

and 5th centuries ce, and the fruit was

subsequently transported west along

trade routes, reaching Africa in around

1000 ce and northern Europe by the

early 14th centuy. The fruit was

introduced to Brazil by Portuguese

explorers in the 17th century, and also

reached Mexico via the Philippines.

In the mid- to late 18th century,

mangoes reached the West Indies,

probably via Brazil.

Spice story

Cream or

pink flowers

develop into

fruits

Green,

unripe fruits

have sour,

astringent flesh

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