Summer Snow Mangoes
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Summer Snow mangoes vary in size, depending on growing conditions, but are generally small to medium in size, averaging 6 to 7 centimeters in length. The fruits range from 350 to 500 grams in weight and have an oblong to oval shape with slightly tapered, blunt, and curved ends. The skin is thin, smooth, taut, and delicate, being easily bruised or damaged, and ripens from green to shades of golden yellow. During maturity, some fruits may develop small black marks on the surface, but these markings are superficial and do not affect the quality and flavor of the flesh. Underneath the skin, the yellow-orange flesh is aqueous, tender, soft, and succulent with low fiber. The flesh can be easily separated from the skin and is creamy and smooth. The flesh also envelops a small, thin, and flat seed that is discarded during consumption. Summer Snow mangoes are known for their distinct aroma. The variety is said to have a sweet and earthy scent reminiscent of the native mangoes once widely grown throughout Taiwan, invoking nostalgia among consumers who grew up eating the native fruits. Summer Snow mangoes are edible once ripe and range 12 to 15 degrees Brix, a measurement of sugar, creating a sweet, floral, tropical and slightly sour taste. The sweetness lingers on the palate and has a mild, pleasing, and refreshing flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Summer Snow mangoes are available from mid-May to late July in Taiwan, with a peak season in June and early July.
Current Facts
Summer Snow mangoes, botanically classified as Mangifera indica, are a Taiwanese variety belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. The cultivar was developed in the late 20th century and was one of the first mangoes created in Taiwan to acquire protected variety rights. Summer Snow mangoes are also known as Kaohsiung No. 3 mangoes, their original varietal name, and Xia Xue mangoes, another marketing moniker. The variety is regarded as a premium, seasonal fruit and is only grown in limited quantities due to its challenging cultivation requirements. Each Summer Snow mango must be individually covered with a bag by hand while the fruit develops on the tree to reduce the use of pesticides and protect against disease, weather, and insect damage. The variety is also sensitive to temperature changes and is susceptible to various climatic conditions, leading to only a few growers throughout Taiwan willing to cultivate the demanding fruits. The most famous Summer Snow mangoes are grown in Taitung, a county in Southeastern Taiwan. This region is said to produce Summer Snow mangoes with a distinct honeyed flavor and fruits grown in this area are often sold in markets as Taitung Summer Snow or Taitung Xia Xue mangoes as a mark of quality. Summer Snow mangoes are available for a short season each year and the highest graded fruits are primarily sold through high-end markets as a fresh-eating delicacy. B-grade, or Summer Snow mangoes with slight visual imperfections, are typically sent to companies for use in flavorful consumer goods such as purees, frozen desserts, and beverages.
Nutritional Value
Summer Snow mangoes have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. Mangoes, in general, are a source of potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, and calcium to protect bones and teeth. Mangoes also provide phosphorus to produce genetic material such as DNA and RNA, fiber to regulate the digestive tract, vitamin A to maintain healthy organs, and other nutrients, including magnesium, copper, vitamin E, folate, and B vitamins.
Applications
Summer Snow mangoes have a sweet, slightly sour taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The highest-graded fruits are sold through retailers and markets for fresh consumption. These fruits have been evaluated on their visual and internal quality and are typically presented raw in slices to savor their premium characteristics. Summer Snow mangoes can be enjoyed as a snack or stand-alone dessert, or they can be sliced and served as a breakfast accompaniment. The fruits can also be used as a sweet topping over parfaits, ice cream, and savory dishes. Beyond fresh consumption, Summer Snow mangoes that were graded anything other than the highest marks are customarily sold to companies who produce mango-infused products. The variety is processed into jams, jellies, and syrups, or used to flavor cakes, cream puffs, bun cakes, and tarts. Summer Snow mangoes are also made into purees for slushies, popsicles, ice cream, and smoothies. In Taiwan, mango shaved ice is a popular summertime dessert. Finely shaved ice is combined with mango ice cream, condensed milk, mango juice, and chunks of fresh mango to create a cooling, refreshing treat to combat the hot, humid weather. Summer Snow mangoes can be utilized in any preparation calling for sweet mangoes and are sometimes used in sauces and dressings for drizzling over meat or seafood dishes. Summer Snow mangoes pair well with other fruits such as oranges, strawberries, lychees, and passion fruit, herbs including cilantro, parsley, and mint, cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate. Whole, unopened Summer Snow mangoes should be matured at room temperature in a cool and dry location. Once ripe, it is recommended to immediately consume the fruits for the best quality and flavor. Ripe Summer Snow mangoes can be kept for a few days in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Summer Snow mangoes were commercially named for their distinct flavor, aroma, and texture. These characteristics were regarded among growers as rare and unique, and the name Summer Snow was given as a play on the idea of something being as rare as “snow or snowflakes falling in the summer.” Taiwan is traditionally hot and humid in the summer, so the poetic imagery of Summer Snow evokes a feeling of refreshment, a welcomed reprieve to the scorching weather. Summer Snow mangoes are also often consumed slightly chilled, and the fruits are sold to commercial companies for use in frozen desserts to further cement their refreshing reputation. Summer Snow is the official commercial name, but the mangoes are also unofficially nicknamed the Louis Vuitton or the “LV” of Taiwan’s mango industry. This luxury brand nickname embodies the variety’s positioning as a premium, high-end mango, and has seen success as a marketing tactic to sell the fruit in gift baskets and expensive gift boxes.
Geography/History
Summer Snow mangoes were developed through the Kaohsiung District Agricultural Improvement Farm of the Executive Yuan Agriculture Committee in Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan. The Agricultural Improvement Center began breeding new varieties in 1983 to increase mango diversity in Taiwanese commercial markets. Li Xueru is credited as the lead developer of this mango and the variety was selected from crosses of native mangoes with other unspecified varieties. It took over fourteen years for the cultivar to be bred, evaluated, tested, and selected for commercial production. The variety was one of the first mangoes to be protected under variety rights in 1997 and was registered in 2008 under the name Kaohsiung No. 3. After its creation, the rights for Kaohsiung No. 3 mangoes were transferred to the Formosa Products International Company for promotion and commercial release. The variety was initially planted in southwestern regions of Taiwan, the typical production regions of the country, but in 2012, it was discovered that the southeastern region of Taitung produced the best-flavored fruits. Taitung quickly became the center of Kaohsiung No. 3 mango production, and in 2017, the variety was first introduced to commercial markets in large quantities. Kaohsiung No. 3 mangoes were eventually rebranded under the name Xia Xue and Summer Snow and were debuted through high-end press events held by the Taitung County Government in 2018, establishing the variety as a luxury fruit. Today, Summer Snow mangoes are primarily grown in Taitung County and are also planted in smaller quantities in other regions of Southern Taiwan, including Pingting. When in season, Summer Snow mangoes are sold domestically in markets and through direct online sales in Taiwan. They are also exported to countries in Asia, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, and Japan. The Summer Snow mangoes featured in the photograph above were sourced through Binjiang Market in Taipei, Taiwan.
