Mango

Mangifera indica is a fruit-bearing tree native to Asia that has been cultivated there for millennia. It is now widely grown in the tropical and subtropical Americas too. Mango trees grow tall. They flower in the dry season and bear fruit in the hot season just before the start of the rains (in Burma and the rest of Southeast Asia, that means from April through June, depending on the variety). Like apples, mangoes do not grow true from seed but are propagated vegetatively to maintain varietal characteristics. The fruit may be sweet or sour when ripe. Sweet mangoes are usually orange yellow when ripe, and sour ones green. Unripe sweet mangoes are also tart and green, but then sweeten as they ripen. In Burma tart mangoes are eaten as a vegetable, usually in salads (see Green Mango Salad), but also as part of a Raw and Cooked Vegetable Plate. Sweet mangoes are eaten in great quantity in mango season, as a sweet snack at any time of day.