What's in season this month
India's mango season runs April through August, and each variety peaks in its own narrow window. Knowing the calendar helps you order the right mango at the right time — and avoid the disappointment of an out-of-season import.
The story
India grows over 1,500 named mango varieties, but only about a dozen reach commercial markets. Each region has its champion: Ratnagiri claims Alphonso, Andhra has Banganapalli, UP fields the Dasheri-Langra-Chausa trio that defines late summer. Here's a month-by-month look at what to order, and when.
Highlights
- 1
April–early June — Alphonso (Hapus) from Ratnagiri & Devgad: the king. Saffron-orange flesh, intense aroma, almost no fibre. Pre-order — premium grades sell out by mid-season.
- 2
May–July — Banganapalli (Safeda) from Andhra Pradesh: large, golden, fiberless, mildly sweet. Perfect for everyday eating and chopping into salads.
- 3
May–July — Totapuri from Karnataka & Tamil Nadu: parrot-beak shape, tangy and firm. Best for juices, pickles and chutneys, not for eating fresh.
- 4
June–August — Dasheri from Malihabad (UP): slim, golden-skinned, heavenly aroma, mid-sweet. The poet's mango — best eaten by hand over a sink.
- 5
July–August — Langra from Varanasi: stays green even when ripe, intensely sweet with a hint of turpentine. Polarising and beloved.
- 6
July–August — Chausa from UP & Bihar: late-season, large, intensely sweet, juicy. The variety that closes the season every year.
Variations
- •Off-season cravings (Sept–March): frozen Alphonso pulp from the previous harvest is the best alternative — flavour holds beautifully for smoothies, lassi and desserts.