Maha Chanok Mangoes
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Maha Chanok mangoes vary in size and shape, depending on growing conditions, and generally average 16 to 18 centimeters in length with an elongated, oblong, slightly curved shape. The fruits range from 250 to 370 grams in weight and feature a small blunt to pointed tip on one end. The skin is semi-thick, tough, taut, and leathery, ripening from green to shades of yellow-orange with bright red 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 orange flesh is dense, smooth, aqueous, and fibreless, with a succulent and tender consistency. Maha Chanok mangoes are known for their melting texture once ripe. The flesh also encases a thin seed, creating a high flesh-to-seed ratio. When ripe, Maha Chanok mangoes release a fragrant, fruity, and tropical aroma and should have a soft give when squeezed. The flesh has a sweet, acidic, musky, and tangy taste with fruity and floral nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Maha Chanok mangoes are available at varying times in the late spring through summer, depending on the growing region.
Current Facts
Maha Chanok mangoes, botanically classified as Mangifera indica, are a Thai variety belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. The sweet-tart fruits are a hybrid cultivar selected for commercial production in the late 20th century in northern Thailand and are monoembryonic, meaning their seeds do not produce clones. Maha Chanok mangoes must be grafted for commercial propagation, and the trees are slow-growing compared to other Thai varieties. Despite their gradual nature, Maha Chanok mango trees are productive once they reach fruit-bearing years and develop fruits that are resistant to disease and have an extended shelf life. Maha Chanok mangoes are known by several name variations, including Mahachanok, Maha Chinook, and Maha Shanook. The variety is also known as Thai Banana, Rajasong, and Rainbow mango. In the present day, Maha Chanok mangoes are one of Thailand's most popular commercial varieties and are primarily consumed as a dessert mango. The fruits have a rich, sweet, and tangy flavor when ripe and are a seasonal delicacy only available for a limited season each year. Maha Chanok mangoes are also a favored variety worldwide and are grown as a specialty cultivar for fresh eating.
Nutritional Value
Maha Chanok mangoes have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. Mangoes, in general, are a source of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, fiber to regulate the digestive tract, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, and calcium to protect bones and teeth. Mangoes also provide iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, vitamin A to maintain organ functioning, magnesium to control nerves, and other nutrients, including zinc, manganese, and B vitamins.
Applications
Maha Chanok mangoes have a sweet-tart flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety can be eaten green or ripe, but it is primarily consumed ripe. Green Maha Chanok mangoes can be shredded into salads and eaten with dips and sauces. Ripe Maha Chanok mangoes are eaten out of hand, discarding the skin and seed, and are valued for their succulent, buttery flesh. The smooth flesh can be sliced and mixed into green salads, fruit bowls, and served on appetizer platters, or they can be diced and tossed into yogurt and chia seed pudding. Maha Chanok mangoes can also be blended into smoothies, juices, and shakes or pureed and frozen into ice cream, sorbet, and popsicles. In addition to fresh preparations, Maha Chanok mangoes are simmered into jams, jellies, and marmalades or cooked into syrup and drizzled over shaved ice. In Thailand, Maha Chanok mangoes are popularly added to mango sticky rice and other desserts, including puddings, cakes, tarts, and fillings for doughnuts. Maha Chanok mangoes are also dried into strips for extended use. Maha Chanok mangoes pair well with other fruits such as coconut, strawberries, bananas, and pineapples and herbs including basil, cilantro, and mint. 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
Maha Chanok mangoes acquired their name in honor of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his literary translation of the Mahachanok story, also known as Mahajanaka Jataka. The Mahajanaka Jataka is a part of the Jataka Tales and is one of the ten birth stories of Buddha. These tales are derived from ancient, sacred scriptures of Theravada Buddhism, and each story describes a virtue associated with humanity. The Mahajanaka Jataka recounts the story of Prince Mahajanaka and his determination and perseverance in the trials of life. Themes of generosity and charity are also woven into the story. It is said that the name Maha Chanok roughly translates to “Greatest Father,” and this name was given to the Buddha in his tenth life. Maha Chanok was also closely associated with His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as the King was viewed as a father to the country. In 1996, King Bhumibol Adulyadej also published a literary translation and interpretation of the Mahajanaka Jataka, further intertwining his name with the sacred story. Around the same time his published text was released, Maha Chanok mangoes arose as a new variety, and King Bhumibol Adulyadej was a part of the mango’s development. It is said that he even helped plant one of the first few Maha Chanok trees in the Li District, inspiring industry growers to name the variety in honor of his reputation as a “Great Father” to Thailand. Since its naming, Maha Chanok mangoes have embodied ideas of the King, Buddha, and literary texts, and the variety has remained a popular cultivar throughout Thailand. Later, in 2016, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away in October. After an official year-long mourning period, a five-day Royal Cremation Ceremony took place in October 2017, with over 250,000 mourners paying their respects. Maha Chanok mangoes were rumored to have been part of the Royal Cremation Ceremony, and the tree that the King planted is still alive and protected in gardens in the Li District.
Geography/History
Maha Chanok mangoes are native to Thailand and were developed in the mid to late 20th century. The variety was bred by Professor Prawat Sittisangk of the San Sai District in the Chiang Mai Province of Thailand and is a hybrid of the Thai variety Nang Klang Wan and an American variety called Sunset. Seedlings of this cross were later planted in the gardens of Mr. Dej Tiew Tong in 1986 in the Li District of the Lamphun Province in Northern Thailand. Mr. Dej Tiew Tong was a grower in the region, and the seedlings planted produced their first fruit crop in 1990. In 1992, King Bhumibol Adulyadej traveled to the Li District with his wife, Queen Sirkit, and met with government officials and residents of the region. Mr. Dej Tiew Tong was a spokesperson in this meeting and was also a friend of the King. The King and Queen spoke with the group and heard the needs of the people. They also visited the Royal Initiative Reservoir, which was being constructed to aid the region in water supply for agriculture. During this visit, the King traveled to Mr. Dej Tiew Tong’s farm and encountered the new mango variety. The King appreciated the distinct traits of the fruit and eventually planted the same mango tree on his property beside the farm, land gifted by the Tiew Tong family. This new mango was named Maha Chanok after the King and became a fruit of royal decree. Today, Maha Chanok mangoes have spread throughout Thailand and are cultivated commercially. The mangoes are only harvested for a limited season each year and are sold domestically throughout Thailand or exported to countries worldwide, including parts of Asia, North America, Southeast Asia, and Australia. They are also grown on a small scale in some of the above-noted regions as a specialty mango.
