| Mangifera 'Carabao' | |
|---|---|
.jpg)  | |
| Genus | Mangifera |
| Cultivar | 'Carabao' |
| Marketing names | Carabao mango, Philippine mango, Champagne mango, Manila mango, Manila super mango, Honey mango, Manggang kalabaw |
| Origin | Philippines |
TheCarabao mango, also known as thePhilippine mango orManila mango among other names, is avariety of particularly sweetmango from thePhilippines.[1] It is one of the most important varieties of mango cultivated in thePhilippines. The variety is reputed internationally due to its sweetness and exotic taste.[2][3] The mango variety was listed as the sweetest in the world by the 1995 edition of theGuinness Book of World Records.[4] It is named after thecarabao, the national animal of the Philippines and a native Filipino breed of domesticatedwater buffalo.[5][6]
Carabao mangoes are around 12.5 cm (5 in) in length and 8.5 cm (3+1⁄4 in) in diameter. These fruits are kidney-shaped and can range from being short to elongated. When ripe, the fruit is bright yellow. The flesh is a rich yellow in color with a tender melting consistency, very sweet, and very aromatic. Like other Southeast Asian-type mangoes, it ispolyembryonic (in contrast to Indian-type mangoes). Unripe or underripe carabao mangoes are very sour, and are traditionally eaten with condiments likeshrimp paste, salt, vinegar, and/orsoy sauce or pickled intoburong mangga. Fruiting season is usually from late May to early July.[7][8][9]
There are 14 differentstrains of Carabao mango.[10] These strains include the Talaban and Fresco ofGuimaras, MMSU Gold of theIlocos Region and Lamao and Sweet Elena ofZambales. A comparative study conducted by Bureau of Agricultural Research of theDepartment of Agriculture in 2003 found that the Sweet Elena of Zambales is the sweetest Carabao mango strain.[11]
TheMexicanAtaulfo andManilita mango cultivars descended from the Philippine mango through theManila galleon trade between 1600 and 1800. Both of these cultivars are sometimes referred to as "Manila mangoes" in trade.[12][13] During theAmerican colonial period of the Philippines, the Carabao mango was also known as thechampagne mango, a name which is now also applied in North American markets to the similar descendant cultivar, Ataulfo.[14][15] Another common market name for the cultivar ishoney mango, which is also used for Ataulfo.[16][17]
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