The Exotic Mango Juice Frenzy! 

Mango

fresh ripe mangoes

The ever-sweet tropical mango has made a lot of people go gaga over its one-of-a-kind flavor. Once you take a bite and taste mango’s burst of sweet flavors in your mouth you will see why. As always there is of course a big difference between a fresh on the tree ripened fruit and ones transported over long distances and ripened in the bellies of large ships.

This fleshy, yellow fruit is native to India but has spread to other tropical countries over time. Today, it is widely cultivated all over the globe because of its high market demand and also its benefits. The mango is actually on top of the list of the most cultivated fruits of the tropical world. In a lot of tropical countries especially in the Philippines, mangoes are not just eaten ripe, they are also eaten unripe, when an unripe mango fruit is dipped in a sauce consisting of soy sauce, salt, and sugar.

Ripe mangoes are mostly yellow, but other varieties are orange, red, or even green. It contains a single large hairy seed which does not separate easily from its flesh. It gives off a distinctly sweet aroma even if it isn’t peeled, that is what mangoes are famous for. This fruit has a sweet flavor with a hint of sour taste.

bottled juice, jam, ice cream, smoothie, and dried mango

Mangoes are cultivated all over the world because there is a whole range of products in which mango is used. Some of these are mango ice cream, dried mangoes, concentrated mango juice, mango smoothies, mango jam, mango fruits (either ripe or unripe are widely used in cuisines) and many others.

Etymology

The term ‘mango’ originated from the Malay word mangga, which in turn came from the Tamil mankay, ‘man’ for “mango tree” and ‘kay’ for its ‘fruit’ during the 1580s when mangoes became famous in tropical countries.

Mango Juice Craze

Mango juice is widely commercialized and distributed in supermarkets internationally. Besides from its exotic and famously delicious taste, it has many health benefits. It is actually one of the controversial superfoods which everyone is talking about. Although mango juice could be purchased in supermarkets, it is better if you extract the juice from the fruit yourself. When making your own mango juice, you have to pick the ripest, sweetest, most yellow mangoes you could possibly find. This is why the best time for making mango juice is during mango season so you can choose from variety of fresh and ripe mangoes.

Mango Juice Health Benefits

Mangoes, as most of you probably know, contain powerful antioxidants in the form of phenols which can prevent cancer cells from spreading. This fruit is also good for pregnant women because of its high iron content that increases oxygen supply in our red blood cells.

It is also effective for relieving clogged pores in our skin, thus cleansing it and making our skin look radiant and more beautiful. The high fiber content in mangoes can help you if you have poor digestion and will help sweep away the harmful waste materials from your body. Mangoes also help fight hyperacidity. It also has the ability to protect and strengthen our hearts and defend the body against diseases because of its generous amounts of Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene and Vitamin E. This fruit is also beneficial in case of constipation, respiratory problems, kidney problems, and even fever.

Mango Nutritional Value

One peeled mango

135 Calories

Protein:   1.06 g

Dietary Fiber:  3.7 g

Potassium:  323 mg

Phosphorus:  23 mg

Magnesium:  19 mg

Calcium:  21 mg

Sodium:  4 mg

Iron:  0.27 mg

Selenium:  1.2 mcg

Vitamin A:   1584 IU

Vitamin B (thiamine):  0.12 mg

Vitamin B (riboflavin):  0.118 mg

Niacin:   1.209 mg

Folate:  29 mcg

Pantothenic Acid:  0.331 mg

Vitamin B6:  0.227 mg

Vitamin C:  57.3 mg

Vitamin E:  2.32 mg

Vitamin K:  8.7 mcg

Fresh Mango Juice Recipe

Ingredients:

• 150 g of fresh mangoes (sliced into cubes)
• 2 tablespoons of lime juice
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• A pinch of salt (optional)
• ¾ cup of cold water
• Ice cubes

Directions:

1. In a blender or food processor blend all the mentioned ingredients except ice: mangoes, lime juice, sugar, cold water, and salt. Blend together for 5 minutes until all the ingredients are finely combined.
2. Pour in a tall drinking glass, garnish with mint leaves, and drop some ice cubes just before serving.
3. Enjoy this fresh and healthy mango juice drink!