Maha Bliss Mangoes
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Maha Bliss mangoes vary in size, depending on seasonal growing conditions, but typically average 16 to 18 centimeters in length and have an elongated, oblong, slightly curved shape. The variety is known for its longer and more slender nature and features tapered, blunt to slightly pointed ends. The skin is semi-thick, smooth, tough, taut, and leathery, ripening from green to shades of yellow-orange with red-pink blush. The fruit’s surface occasionally exhibits black-brown markings and spots developed from weather conditions and sap. These markings are only superficial and do not affect the quality of the flesh. Underneath the surface, the yellow-orange flesh is dense, fibreless, and aqueous with a tender, succulent consistency. Maha Bliss mangoes are known for thin seeds, creating a high flesh-to-seed ratio. Select Maha Bliss mangoes that feel heavy for their size and release a rich, floral, and fruity aroma. When ripe, Maha Bliss mangoes will be mostly firm but will also have a slight, soft give when gently squeezed. The flesh has a sweet-tart, sugary, musky, and tangy taste with tropical nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Maha Bliss mangoes are generally available in Australia between August and December.
Current Facts
Maha Bliss mangoes, botanically classified as Mangifera indica, are a commercial variety in Australia belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. The cultivar is an Australian clone of the well-known Thai mango Maha Chanok and was planted in the Northern Territory in the early 21st century. Maha Bliss mangoes are marketed as an easier-to-eat commercial variety due to their paper-thin seed. This characteristic allows for a higher flesh-to-seed ratio, and the variety has a distinct, elongated shape that distinguishes it from the other mango cultivars currently offered in Australian commercial markets. Maha Bliss mangoes are still considered a new variety in 2024, having been commercially released in 2023. Maha Bliss mangoes are favored for their rich, sweet-tart taste and are a seasonal delicacy promoted for their versatility in sweet or savory preparations.
Nutritional Value
Maha Bliss mangoes have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. Mangoes, in general, are sources of vitamins A, C, and E and fiber. Vitamin A helps to maintain healthy organs, vitamin C strengthens the immune system, and vitamin E assists in guarding the cells against the damage caused by free radicals. Fiber helps the body regulate the digestive tract. Mangoes also contain minerals such as iron, copper, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and zinc. Iron develops the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, copper to produce red blood cells, and magnesium to control nerve functions. Potassium balances fluid levels within the body, and calcium supports bones and teeth.
Applications
Maha Bliss mangoes have a sweet-tart flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety is marketed in Australia as a ripe-eating fruit consumed out of hand, discarding the skin and seed. Maha Bliss mangoes are promoted for their thin seed, meaning more flesh is available to consumers in each fruit. The fruit’s elongated shape also allows the skin to be sliced and peeled like a banana. Beyond peeling, the flesh can be sliced from the seed into two large halves, also known as cheeks, and these halves can be cut into thinner pieces or scored into small, cube-like chunks. Maha Bliss mangoes have a sweet, tropical flavor that can be used in any preparation, calling for sweet mango. The flesh is popularly added to green salads, salsas, and fruit medleys or eaten as a stand-alone snack. Maha Bliss mangoes can also be used as a yogurt or granola topping or as a topping for desserts such as sago, puddings, or custards. In Australia, ripe Maha Bliss mangoes are sometimes incorporated into smoothies, protein shakes, juices, or blended and frozen into homemade sorbets, popsicles, and ice cream. In addition to fresh preparations, Maha Bliss mangoes can be added to savory or sweet-cooked dishes such as roasted chicken, sticky rice, or various sauces, glazes, and chutneys. Maha Bliss mangoes can also be simmered into jams, jellies, and marmalades or used to flavor cakes and other desserts. Maha Bliss mangoes pair well with honey, vanilla, and fruits, including bananas, pineapples, passion fruit, and strawberries. The variety should be ripened at room temperature. Once mature, the fruits should be immediately consumed for the best quality and flavor and will keep for 3 to 5 days when stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Mangoes are considered one of the largest horticultural commodities in the Northern Territory, Australia, and in 2024, the fruits in the territory accounted for around half of the total mangoes grown on the continent. Maha Bliss mangoes are grown in a region near the city of Darwin, the northernmost city in Australia. Darwin has also acquired a reputation as a mango-producing region, and the community has celebrated this label by hosting annual mango-centric events. Historically, mango cooking competitions, multi-course dinners, and parties were held throughout the years to engage the public and raise awareness about mango production. The region also has an annual mango festival hosted in 2024 by Berry Springs, a locality just outside of Darwin. During the Berry Springs Mango Festival, mangoes are celebrated through community games such as mango tosses, a mango spoon race, a mango eating contest, and guessing the weight of the fruit. The festival also holds a parade and multiple mango chutney, jam, and cooking competitions. The Berry Springs Mango Festival is typically held in October, and organizers hope to raise awareness about the local varieties grown in the region and attract attention from both Northern Territory residents and tourists.
Geography/History
Maha Bliss mangoes were developed in the Northern Territory of Australia in the early 21st century. The variety is said to be a clone of the Maha Chanok mango, a cultivar originally from Thailand. Maha Chanok mangoes were created in the mid to late 20th century from a cross performed by Professor Prawat Sittisangk of the San Sai District in the Chiang Mai Province of Thailand. The variety is a hybrid of the Thai Nang Klang Wan and the American Sunset variety. Seedlings of this cross were later planted in 1986, and their first fruit crop was produced in 1990. In 1992, King Bhumibol Adulyadej traveled to the Li District with his wife, Queen Sirkit, and encountered the new mango variety. The King appreciated the distinct traits of the fruit, and the variety was named Maha Chanok in his honor. In the early 21st century, Tou’s Garden planted Maha Chanok mangoes on their property in the Acacia Gap, a region just outside of Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. The variety was evaluated and tested for over ten years before the growers decided to plant it commercially. In 2015 and 2016, Tou’s Garden planted Maha Chanok mango trees for commercial production and acquired breeding rights to the variety in Australia. By 2020, around 3,500 Maha Chanok mango trees were planted on the company’s property in the Acacia Gap, and a few years later, new land was purchased, allowing for an additional 40,000 Maha Chanok mango trees to be planted. It took several years for the trees to mature and begin bearing fruit, and the fruits were sold in small quantities starting in 2021. Tou’s Garden eventually rebranded Maha Chanok mangoes under the name Maha Bliss, and in 2023, the variety was released commercially through partnerships with select Australian retailers. Today, Maha Bliss mangoes are only grown in the Northern Territory and are shipped across the continent to retailers in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria. They are also sold locally in the Northern Territory.
