Mango Journey Through History

The Mango, a luscious and versatile fruit, has a rich history that spans centuries, taking us on a journey from the foothills of the Himalayas to global dissemination. This tropical gem's story begins around four or five centuries BC when itinerant Buddhist monks discovered wild mangoes in India and Burma, marking the inception of mango trade.

Java, in AD 900-1100, witnessed the cultivation of mangoes, coinciding with the construction of the Borobudur temple. Intricately carved reliefs on the temple walls depict the Buddha meditating under the shade of a mango tree, emphasizing the cultural and spiritual significance of this fruit.

In the seventh century AD, Chinese traveler Hwen Tsang brought mangoes back to China after his travels to India, adding a new chapter to the fruit's global journey. A theory suggests that mangoes reached Africa via Persia in the tenth century, further solidifying its worldwide presence.

The Portuguese traders played a pivotal role in the global spread of mangoes, introducing the fruit to Brazil in the 1700s and Barbados in 1742. From these points, mangoes quickly disseminated across the continents, becoming a global culinary delight.

The heart of mango cultivation lies in Mogul, India, where the fruit holds cultural significance and is revered for its purported aphrodisiac properties. The 16th century saw the development of grafting techniques, enabling efficient propagation of desirable mango varieties.

The term 'mangas' was first used for mango in the Greek work 'Colloquies on Simples and Drugs of India' in the 16th century. However, the earliest reference to the mango tree, Mangifera indica, dates back to 4000 BC in Hindu scriptures, highlighting its deep-rooted cultural importance.

Belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, which includes poison ivy, cashews, and pistachios, the mango is known by various names worldwide – manga, mangga, mangot, mangou, and mangue. This diversity in nomenclature reflects the fruit's global appeal and adaptation to different cultures.

Mangoes are not only known for their historical significance but also for their vibrant colors, ranging from greenish and yellowish to reddish, often tinged with shades of purple, pink, orange-yellow, or red. With over 50 varieties, each offering a unique flavor profile, mangoes continue to captivate taste buds around the world.

In conclusion, the Mango's journey through history is a testament to its cultural, culinary, and agricultural significance. From its humble origins in the Himalayas to becoming a global delicacy, the mango has truly carved its place in the annals of human civilization.
Mango Journey Through History

Ancient history of mango

History indicates that Indian mango cultivation is very ancient, of about 4000 years old. Ancient Indians value mango not merely for its sentiment or religious consideration, but they realized its importance in economic and cultural life of the society.

Fa-Hien and Sung-Yun mentioned in their travel notes that the Gautama Buddha was presented with a mango grove by Amradarika in 500 BC as a place for meditation.

The spread of Buddhism assisted in the distribution of mangoes in Southeastern Asia. Buddhist monks took mango plants on voyages to Malaya and eastern Asia in the 4th and 5th centuries BC.

According to German born botanist, Georg Eberhard Rumphius in his Het Amboinsche kruidboek or Herbarium Amboinense (1741), the mango was introduced into certain islands of the Indonesia archipelago within recent times; however, the mango was in cultivation in Java as early as early as AD 900-1100, when the temple at Borobudur was built and faced with carvings of the Buddha in contemplation under a mango tree.

Mangoes were carried to Africa during the 16th century and later found their way aboard Portuguese ships to Brazil in the 1700s.
Ancient history of mango

Mango in United States

The cultivated mango originated in southeastern Asia, and was brought to England during colonization of India. In 1860, mangoes were successfully introduced to Florida along the east coast, where only a few varieties were grown.

Since their introduction to Florida, they have grown to become an important cash crop as well as an exceptionally popular backyard tree.

In 1889, the United States Department of Agriculture introduced a grafted variety from India called the ‘Mulgoa’ also known as ‘Mulgoba' in the United States.

Most of the mangoes sold in the United States are grown in Florida or imported from Mexico, Haiti, the Caribbean and South America.

Among top five mango importers worldwide is United States. Imported mangoes are mostly processed into puree and juice. The per capita consumption of processed mango products in the United States is higher than the consumption of fresh mangoes.
Mango in United States

History of mango in India

Mango cultivation probably originated in India, and it was estimated that mango cultivation to have began at least 4000 years ago.

This fruit is intimately associated with the history of India agriculture and civilization and it enjoys a royal status in the country when compared to the other growing places. Ancient Sanskrit literature described the mango as ‘king of fruits'. Ayurvedic medicine recognizes mangoes as an aphrodisiac and in some ancient n texts it is written that the ripe mango increases sexual energy and stamina.

The first group of people to spill the beans and initiate trade of the fruit were peripatetic Buddhist monks four or five centuries BC. A mango tree is depicted in friezes on the stupa of Bharut, which was constructed around 100 BC.

Available records indicate that the soldiers of Alexandra the Great has come across grove in Indus Valley. 

Traders and monks from India possibly introduced superior elections of mango into South-east Asia: however, vegetative propagation was unknown in India until after the arrival of the Portuguese in Goa in the 15th century.

During Mughal time, Akbar the Great paid the greatest tribute to mango who established an orchard of one lakh mango trees, designated as ‘Lakh-Bagh’ in Darbhanga in erstwhile Bihar State.

The mango tree and fruit are referred in the travelogues of ancient travelers including Huan tsang, Ibn Hankal and Ibn Batuta of which the Chinese traveler Huan-tsang is the first one to bring mango to the notice of the outside world during 632-645 AD.
History of mango in India

History of Mangifera indica (Mango)

History of Mangifera indica (Mango)

M. indica was evidently domesticated in the northern India-Burma region, where it still grows wild in the hills of Assam and adjacent areas.

The wild trees, like their cultivated derivates, can grow to over 40 m in height and live for over a century.

The mango was probably being planted in India by 2000 B.C and is prominently recorded in ancient Sanskrit writings.

Human selection has been concentrated on the fruit and has produced cultivars with much larger, better flavored fruits with less resin and fiber and smaller pits.

During the 17th century, the Portuguese planted mangoes in coastal areas of both East and West Africa; but acceptance by the Africans was slow and spread into the interior was erratic.

Mango trees were present in a few interior market towns in West Africa, e.g., Fouta Djallon, when European explorers arrived in the late 19th century, but most of the spread came later.

The earliest known successful introduction of M. indica to the New World was to Bahia in Brazil about 1700 with plantings elsewhere along the Brazilian coast soon after.

In 1742, the mango was successfully introduced to Barbados from Rio de Janeiro. Soon other direct introductions to the West Indies were made from the Indian Ocean.

In latter half of the 18th century, British and French colonial botanical gardens played a leading role in mango introduction.

Mango trees, along with East Indian spice trees, were planted in the St. Vincent botanical garden when it was started in 1766.

Meanwhile, a quite spate introduction had taken place across the Pacific from the Philippine to Mexico.

Mangoes were not grown around Manila until over a century after the trade with Mexico began, nor were they grown in Mexico until late in the 18th century when Mexico acquired, under the name of mango of Manila, the unusual apomictic variety grown in the Philippine and Guam.

The great expansion of mango growing over tropical Central and South America took place between 1800 and 1850 mainly by casualty planted and volunteer seedling trees often yielding poor quality fruit.

Geographic spread of Mangifera was essentially completed in the last half of the 19th century with its introduction to such far flung places as Florida, Hawaii, Fiji, Queensland and Natal.
History of Mangifera indica (Mango)

History and Origin of Mango

History and Origin of Mango The mango has been known in India since very early times. It is referred to in Sanskrit literature as Amra and has been under cultivation by man for over 4000 years. 

It appears, however, that Hsiian-tsang, one of the early travelers to India (632-645), was the first person to bring mango to the notice of people outside India. 

This fruit occupied an important place in horticulture during the rule of the Mogul emperors in India, and Akbar the Great (1556-1605) planted an orchard of 100,000 mango trees. 

The origin of most o the improved varieties in India have been traced to those days, and the encyclopedia Ain-e-Akbari (1590 AD) contains a good account of the mango regarding its quality and varietal characteristics. 

Phytogeographical data studies of the phylogenetic taxonomy of species of Mangifera indicate that this genus originated in the Indo-Burma region. 

Most of the cultivated varieties have arisen from four main species – Mangifera indica, Mangifera sylvatica, Mangifera odorata, and Mangifera zeylanica. 

Mango cultivation is found in many countries of Southeast Asia – the Philippines, Indonesia, Java, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. 

Introduction of the mango to East and West Africa and subsequently to Brazil is said to have occurred in the sixteenth century. 

Mexico acquired the mango in the nineteenth century, and it entered Florida in 1833. The cultivated mango varieties are the result of constant selection by man from original wild plants for over 4000 years. 

The wild progenies are still available in India in two species, Mangifera indica and Mangifera sylvatica, which have small fruits with a big stone, thin acidic flesh and long fibers. 

The knowledge of vegetative preparation gained in the sixteenth century made it possible to produce a large number of cultivars which were far superior to the wild forms. 

This fruit have little fiber, and are sweet in taste with more flesh. 

History and Origin of Mango

Brief history of mango

The wild mango originated in the foothills of the Himalayas in India and Burma. The first group of people to spill the beans and initiate trade of the fruit were peripatetic Buddhist monks four or five centuries BC.

The mango was cultivated in Java at least as early as AD 900-1100, when the temple at Borobudur was built and faced with carvings of the Buddha in contemplation under a mango tree.

The Chinese traveler Hwen Tsang, who visited India during the first half of the seventh century AD, brought the mango home with him to China.

One theory holds that mangoes first reached Africa by way of Persia in the tenth century. Traders from Portugal introduced mangoes to Brazil in the 1700s and to Barbados in 1742. From there, mangoes then began popping up all over the world.

The cultivation of the fruits began in Mogul, India, where the fruit is still considered sacred and is thought to have aphrodisiac effects. In the 16th century, a special technique employing grafting was developed for propagating the mango.

As early as the sixteenth century, the name ‘mangas’ was used for the mango in the Greek Work, ‘Colloquies on Simples and Drugs of India’. The earliest mentioned of mango tree, Mangifera indica, which means ‘the great fruit bearer’, is found in Hindu scriptures dating back to 4000 BC.

The mango is a member of the Anachardiaceae family which includes poison ivy, cashews, and pistachios. It is also known as manga, mangga, mangot, mangou, and mangue in other parts of the world.

The mango comes in over 50 varieties, ranging in color from greenish, yellowish, to reddish, often tinged with purple, pink, orange-yellow, or red.
Brief history of mango