Can I only buy it in season?
It is listed as Main season March–May. It is harvested all year, but quantity and price can change with the season and the variety. The calendar does not guarantee that the fruit is on sale on any given day.
Mango
Mango · มะม่วง
If you want something sweet in Thailand, try a well-ripened mango. Varieties such as Nam Dok Mai are known for soft, fragrant yellow flesh. If you have had mango sticky rice, eat the fruit on its own to taste the mango itself. There are also kinds of unripe mango that are eaten crunchy and sour.
Mangos - single and halved · Ivar Leidus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized for display · Photo provided under CC BY-SA 4.0
When is the best time to eat it?
Main season March–May
Listed as harvested all year
Nam Dok Mai Si Thong of Phitsanulok: harvest listed March–June
Use the main season, or the harvest period of a regional fruit, as a guide. Actual harvests can vary with the growing area, the variety and the weather.
What does it taste like?
Ripe mango is soft and sweet. Some varieties of green mango are eaten for a different texture from ripe mango, so you do not need to assume that every green one is unripe just from its color.
Why this fruit is known in Thailand
Thailand has many mango varieties, such as Nam Dok Mai and Maha Chanok, and a food culture that enjoys ripe and green fruit in different ways. It is also familiar as the topping of a sticky rice dessert, so it is a good fruit to try on a Thai trip.
Basics to know before you buy
- Thai name
- มะม่วง
- Harvest period
- Main season March–May
- Regional fruit
- Nam Dok Mai Si Thong of Phitsanulok: harvest listed March–June
- How to buy
- If you want sweet, soft mango, say you are looking for ripe mango. Crunchy mango may be sold separately. The price unit differs between buying whole fruit by the kg and buying a tray of sliced fruit.
How to prepare and eat it
- Wash whole fruit, then cut the flesh from both sides of the pit.
- Cut the flesh into bite-size pieces and eat it as it is, or enjoy it with mango sticky rice.
- If you want to buy some to eat now and some to take away, choose the ripeness together with the seller.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a per-kg price with a price per tray?
If you want sweet, soft mango, say you are looking for ripe mango. Crunchy mango may be sold separately. The price unit differs between buying whole fruit by the kg and buying a tray of sliced fruit.
Keep exploring
Official sources
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good next step. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one place to the next.
Sharing image credit: Ivar Leidus · CC BY-SA 4.0