alphonso mango

The furtive aroma of the great Indian Alphonso Mango

The most characteristic quality about Indian mango, specifically for the Alphonso mango is the aroma. It is this quality that makes this Indian mango so distinct and different from any other variety found around the world. The credit for this unique smell can to great extend be given to the soil and then to the climatic conditions which help in giving mango their unique aroma.
The Alphonso mango from Ratnagiri is most loved for its exotic sweet taste and equally exotic aroma. Ratnagiri is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri District in Maharashtra, India. The fruit finds a perfect home in the Konkan strip of western coastal stretch of India where the fertile alluvial soil nourishes them to abundance and produces the most authentic Alphonso. Apart from its deep sweet taste, the Alphonso mango is cherished for its tender texture, devoid of any fiber and aromatic flesh.
The distinctive aroma and flavour of Indian mango is rendered by the presence of various volatile organic chemicals mainly belonging to terpene, furanone, lactone and ester classes. The presence of monoterpenes, “Myrcene” and “(Z)-ocimene” and “Lactones” and “Furanones” provides a very distinctive, vibrant, multi-facet aroma and flavour to Indian mango cultivars, specifically the Alphonso mangoes.
The lactones and furanones present in Alphonso mango are synthesized while ripening. However, terpenes and the other flavourants exist in immature as well as ripened fruits. The monoterpene, “myrcene” is found in ripened Alphonso mango and is the reason for the citrusy, woodsy and fruity aroma of Alphonso and other species like lemongrass, hops, Indian bay tree, cannabis and verbena. At Shimla Hills, we never use artificial ripening methodologies to ensure that the “myrcene” stays intact and so does the natural aroma of the mango.
Interestingly, terpenes like myrcene were evolved by plants to lure certain favourable insects and prevent animals from grazing. However, human beings being a much evolved, higher species had an evolutionary ability to not be adversely affected by these chemicals, by moderating their ability to be assimilated in our bodies. The only effect these chemicals have on our system is that they magnify the euphoric effect of cannabis and other similar recreational drugs. So next time do eat a mango before you smoke marijuana to boost the level of high!

Mango’s sweet taste is finding a place in western markets

shimlahills Food Processing, Mango August 11, 2014April 7, 2015alphonso mango, Fruit Pulp, fruit pulp exporters, fruit pulp manufacturer, fruit pulp suppliers, fruit pulps, Indian fruit, Mango pulp, processed fruit, RASPURI, totapuri mango

Mangoes are about 50% of the total tropical fruits grown worldwide. Since 1990, the market for mango pulp grew exponentially which is expected to continue. India is the leader among major mango growers with widely recognized variety of mangoes (primarily Alphonso, Totapuri and Kesar) being used in the manufacturing of pulp.

India accounts for contributing approximately 67 percent of the total world export when it comes to processed mango product. That is almost half of the world production of mangoes. The bulk of this share goes to Middle East followed by Southeast Asia and North America.

Mango pulp is used as a major food ingredient in the making of mango juice, nectars, juice blends, dairy, bakery, baby food manufacturing, ice-creams etc. However, in recent years the popularity of mango has spread to the western markets with consumers showing interest in the taste. The US juice industry and fresh market has shown consistent interest in both fresh mango and its processed products. The US juice industry has been making more and more use of mango pulp in its orange juice blends.

The popularity for mango in the US market can be attributed to two reasons. Firstly, mango is new for the US consumers, who have begun to develop a taste for it. Secondly, the US orange juice industry has been blending mango pulp for it natural sweet content that balances the acidity in orange juice. The most widely consumed fruit juice in the US is orange. And because of this widespread popularity of orange juice, its annual demand crosses approximately 500,000 MT. If one goes by the estimates, then the demand for the mango pulp used in this blending process in the coming years will only going to increase.

Beloved Mango, It is Time to Appease Now!

shimlahills Mango April 15, 2014April 16, 2014alphonso mango, buy alphonso mango, indian mango, kesar mango, mango exporters, mango juice, mango puree, mango season, mangoes suppliers, processed mango, shimlahills

I am yet to find a person who doesn’t love mangoes. Just like wine, the taste for mangoes matures with time. I have been having mangoes since childhood, but each season I discover a new taste. The king of fruits, India’s national fruit and divine in its truest sense – it’s not an exaggeration why people go bonkers over it.

Mangoes have been scrupulously grafted over millenniums as Indian masterwork and literally revered as a fruit of God. If its mango, it’s got to be Indian – a feeling which will not be relented under any circumstance. Believe me, most of us don’t reckon the fact that mangoes can exist anywhere other than India. And why not – the first written reference to mangoes dates back to 1000 B.C. in Bradaranyaka Upanishad. This makes them as old as the Indian civilization itself.

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So while roaming the grocery market last weekend, I stopped at a shop that boasted of being first to bring season’s first mangoes. It’s a novelty here to be first to have these exotic fruit. Its uniqueness lies in the aroma, taste and the fact that you have to wait for the mango season in order to relish this fruit again.

Standing in a queue to buy these delicious, I understood why mangoes, through ages have been a perfect tool to appease relations with nations and forge friendship. It is their endearing quality to warm up the deepest corners of your heart, and helplessly force a person to immerse senses into sheer bliss.

It is significant to note the love Mughals bestowed on this fruit. Jahangir in Ain-i-Akbari goes down to declare that “notwithstanding the sweetness of the fruits of Kabul, not one of them has, to my taste, the flavour of the mango.”

Whilst poet Mirza Ghalib wrote volumes in praise of mangoes, Dar sifat-e amba is one such poem, explaining his love for mangoes. In fact it is believed that after defeating Humayun at Chausa, Sher Shah Suri gave the name ‘Chausa’ to his favourite mango. Emperor Akbar hastened the process of planting a garden of 100,000 mangoes trees – such was their love for this fruit.

Mango somehow manages to dissolve all difference. Mango diplomacy has been used as an instrument to improve economic and trade relations. This traces back to Indus Valley civilization, to the advent of Mughals all through the British rule to our modern day nation. India and Pakistan, at many times have tried to sort their differences with mango. It worked the same with United States.

So whether it the sweet and sour taste of Totapuri, the rich pulpy Kesar with gritty aftertaste, the candy sweet dussehris of Lucknow or the utterly exotic taste of Alphonso of Ratnagiri – each variety of mangoes have a flavour that speaks about centuries of love and passion for them.

Shimla Hills: The year gone by…2013!

shimlahills Events, Food, Food Processing, Infographic December 31, 2013April 16, 2014alphonso mango, Basmati Rice, food show, fruits, guava pulp, international food trade, processed mango, spices, trade fair

Today, as we eagerly wait for the moment when we step into the year 2014 we reflect on the year gone by. As growing part of food industry, Shimla Hills has achieved a lot in year 2013. So here we have a snapshot of our achievements for you all to enjoy!

Shimla Hills : ‘A Government Certified Export House’. — Shimla Hills – ‘A Government Certified Export House’.

India – With the biggest bite of global mango business

shimlahills Mango April 23, 2013April 16, 2014alphonso mango, buy alphonso mango, indian mango, kesar mango, mango exporters, mango puree, mangoes suppliers, processed mango, totapuri mango

When it comes to lucrative global fruit market, every nation proudly showcase the fruit which they can claim exclusive and uniquely theirs. Thus, Hawaii domineer pineapples, China, its lychees, Kenya, its Passion fruit. India touts for “Alphonso”-The Haffus.

Alphonso, the king of fruit, is one of the, most premium Varities of Mangoes grown in the Month of April and May at Konkan and Rattnagiri, regions of Maharashtra. This plump, juicy, sweet and sour fruit, beside its huge domestic demand is exported worldwide with huge demands from UAE, Europe and Asia.

India not only grows Alphonso but more than 1000 varieties of Mango, making India the largest producer and exporter of Mangoes. The other famous Varities known worldwide are Totapuri, Raspuri, Dusherri and Kesar. Indian Mangoes account for 40 percent of the world output, as per data from UN foods.

When it comes to export , Middle East is the main market for Indian mangoes, however India making efforts to increase its export share in the USA, Australia and Japan Markets, where the strict compliances makes it difficult to enter the market, Indian exporters also face tough competition from Pakistan, which has cheaper than the Indian mangoes.

It’s not only Fresh mangoes, but the processed form of Mangoes is equally exported from India. Mango Pulp, prepared from selected, picked fresh mangoes which are transported to strategically located Mango processing plants. Selected high quality fruit is washed, peeled, blanched, deseeded and pulped. The ready pulp is hermetically sterilized and packed in the aseptic bags and tin cans.

Frozen pulp is also an upcoming industrial product pasteurized and deep-frozen in plate freezers. The process ensures that the natural flavor and aroma of the fruit is retained in the final product. IQF – Individual quick frozen Mango Slices, Dices and Chunks are also have increasingly demand due to their readiness and easy to use properties.

Mango Pulp/Concentrate is a perfect industrial suited product, used as ingredient for manufacturing juices, nectars, drinks, jams, fruit cheese, yoghurt, confectionery and various other kinds of beverages.

Beside Gujarat and Maharashtra states, Krishnagiri in Tamilnadu accounts for the maximum production of mangoes with nearly 36,000 hectares and processes 50000 tons of mango pulp every year

With the new season 2013 arriving, companies are energetically promoting the mango internationally through festivals and campaigns. This is definitely a promising season, as the crop is expected to be good. Says Mr Sumant Bindal, Director- Shimla Hills- one of the leading manufacturer and exports of Mango pulp from India.

India eyes huge export potential for its fresh new season, which has just started. There are expectations for a better mango season than those seen over the previous two or three years in India. An increase in the supply of mangoes is observed in the recent weeks compared with the same time last year. However, the availability of export-quality mango depends on weather condition which has been conducive this year as per the sources.

Yet the charm & nostalgia for the mango season is undeniable. It has been said that each person from the alphanso charmers has that secret desire to at least taste one Ratnagiri-Devgad Alphonso mango from India in the season otherwise what is life worth living for…