Alphonso

Alphonso (frequently called Hapus, Salem Gundu, or Badami in some regions) is globally celebrated as the 'King of Mangoes'. It is a premium heritage variety that traces its origin back to the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India, and was named after Afonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese general and military expert who helped establish Portuguese colonies in India.

Physically, the Alphonso mango has a distinctive oblong shape with a rounded bottom. It is a medium-sized fruit, typically weighing between 250 and 350 grams. When perfectly ripe, its smooth, non-fibrous skin turns a breathtaking, vibrant golden-orange or saffron-yellow, free of any blush.

The flavor and aroma of Alphonso are unparalleled. It offers a rich, creamy, buttery texture that melts in the mouth, accompanied by an intensely sweet, rich, and highly aromatic perfume-like scent. The total soluble solids (TSS) are high, offering a luxurious sweetness. The pulp is a deep saffron color and completely fiberless (none).

The Alphonso season is early, commencing in April, reaching its peak in May, and tapering off by early June. It thrives in the lateritic soils of the Devgad and Ratnagiri districts in Maharashtra, as well as in Valsad (Gujarat) and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (Salem).

When comparing it to other varieties, Alphonso is often weighed against Kesar and Badami. While Badami (often called the Alphonso of Karnataka) looks similar, true Alphonso has a much deeper golden-orange hue and a stronger, more intoxicating aroma. Kesar is sweeter but lacks the dense buttery richness of Alphonso. Learn more about identifying authentic mangoes at our Mango Identifier hub.

Post-harvest, Alphonso has a good shelf life, making it highly suitable for export. However, it is uniquely susceptible to 'spongy tissue', a physiological disorder where internal tissue becomes white and spongy, which led to the breeding of spongy tissue-free hybrids like Arka Anmol.