Highlights
- More than 1,000 people sampled Indian mangoes.
- Kesar and Langra varieties were featured.
- Diaspora members recalled childhood memories.
- Demand for Indian mangoes continues to grow.
- More mango festivals are planned across the US
The flavors and aroma of India's famous mangoes captivated New Yorkers during a special Indian Mango Festival hosted by the Consulate General of India in New York.
The day-long event took place in Union Square and featured two popular varieties: Kesar from Gir and Langra from Varanasi. Despite intermittent rain throughout the day, hundreds of people lined up to sample the fruit.
According to the Consulate, “More than 1,000 New Yorkers sampled these delicious varieties, and Indian mangoes quickly became everyone's favourite!”
Deputy Consul General of India in New York, Vishal Harsh, said Indian mangoes are receiving growing attention in the United States.
“Indian mango is popular and gaining a lot of attention here. Everywhere people are talking about them, there is immense enthusiasm for mangoes from India,” he said.
Harsh noted that while many Americans are familiar with Alphonso mangoes, fewer know about other Indian varieties such as Kesar and Langra.
“We are popularising other varieties of Indian mangoes here,” he said.
He added that the Consulate plans to organize larger mango festivals in the future and introduce more varieties to American consumers.
Visitors from different cultural backgrounds enjoyed the samples and quickly became fans of the fruit. Many asked where they could buy additional mangoes in the New York tri-state area.
One young New Yorker admitted he was not usually a fan of mangoes but changed his mind after tasting the Indian varieties.
“these are delicious and fantastic,” he said.
For members of the Indian diaspora, the event was much more than a food festival. It brought back memories of childhood summers spent with family enjoying mangoes across India. Many recalled varieties such as Alphonso and Kesar from Maharashtra, Banganapalle and Himayat from Andhra Pradesh, Langra and Dussehri from Uttar Pradesh, and Rajapuri from Gujarat.
Several attendees said they had not tasted authentic Indian mangoes for years after moving abroad.
“For me, it brings back memories of having mangoes with my whole family. I'm going to take a photograph of the mangoes and send it to my mother,” one attendee said.
Another visitor shared similar emotions.
“It feels excellent. I feel like I have been deprived of this for a very long time,” a young Indian attendee said.
“It has been years since I had the Langra mango, and this really takes me back home. While mangoes from other regions are available in the US, they do not taste like the ones we have grown up eating in India,” he added.
Indian diplomatic missions across the United States are also promoting the fruit through similar events. Consulates from Seattle to New York are hosting mango festivals featuring premium Indian varieties and mango-based recipes.
The Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to host a "Taste the Tropical Magic" event on June 27.
Meanwhile, Indian mangoes are becoming increasingly popular at major retailers such as Costco. According to Costco executive Bob Huskey, demand for Kesar mangoes has exceeded expectations.
“and they have been selling faster than we can bring them back in.”
One of the most emotional moments came when a young Indian-American woman tasted the mangoes.
“I'm crying…these remind me of my grandmother," she said.
“It has been almost 10 years since I've had Indian mangoes in India. This is like gold, it's very, very precious,” she added as she enjoyed the Kesar and Langra mangoes.
The couple during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra earlier this yearxx