History
Mango (Mangifera indica) is native to India. It remained unknown for a long time before the Portuguese navigators introduced it in Latin America and the Caribbean in the 16th century. It would be at the beginning of colonization that mango would arrive in Martinique.
Varieties
There are nearly 1,000 varieties of mangoes. Mangoes found in European and American markets are often imported from Brazil and tropical Africa. Martinican mangoes are not imported abroad. You must therefore go to the island to enjoy this delicious fruit widespread on the island. In Martinique, the population called mangot (pronounce mango) the smaller mangoes and mangues, the bigger ones.
There are very many varieties in Martinique.
Depending on the variety, the color, the taste or the shape of the mango may vary. In Martinique, there are varieties of mangoes like Julie, Divine, Reine Amélie, Mangue d'Or, Bassignac, Zéfirine, Mangot vert et Mangot Moussache, etc ...
Julie and Bassignac are the most prevalent on the island. It is not uncommon for local inhabitants to have different varieties of mango trees in their gardens. Mango is usually harvested from May to August.
The mango tree is a hardy tree with dense foliage, it can reach 30 m high. Its leaves are dark green and thick. Its flowers are tiny and hermaphrodites. They are often wrongly accused in the West Indies of conjunctivitis spreading through the air.
The fruits weigh between 50 grams and 2 kg depending on the variety. The skin of the young fruit is green but is adorned with a mixture of green, yellow, orange and even red when ripe! The ripe fruit has a yellow or orange flesh, soft, juicy and flavorful. It contains a flat and fibrous core.
Health benefits
Mango has many therapeutic properties. It contains many enzymes to fight against cancer cells. The proportion of vitamin A is useful for visual acuity. It is a laxative, and its pulp on the skin of the face would be effective against acne. The leaves of the mango prepared in infusion reduce the incidence of diabetes. The presence of vitamin E improves the functioning of sex hormones and increases libido. It prevents anemia.
Be careful though, too much consumption can even cause diarrhea for some people.
Uses
In Martinique, mango is eaten generally raw. We can find it in juice, jam, ice creams or some alcoholic beverages.
