need alphonso mangoes in the US
April 23, 2004 6:19 PM Subscribe
A desperate question... where can I order alphonso mangoes online/phone for delivery within the US?
Response by poster: If nothing else.
Still, 'fresh' solutions welcome.
posted by Gyan at 8:07 PM on April 23, 2004
Still, 'fresh' solutions welcome.
posted by Gyan at 8:07 PM on April 23, 2004
From the googling I've done (I found the canned ones by typing:
"alphonso mango" order
), it appears to only grow in India.
Why is this a desperate question, just out of curiosity?
posted by j at 8:10 PM on April 23, 2004
"alphonso mango" order
), it appears to only grow in India.
Why is this a desperate question, just out of curiosity?
posted by j at 8:10 PM on April 23, 2004
Response by poster: Well, I'm from India. Bombay, to be precise. And every year for the first 20 years, I've chugged down 4-5 alphonsos a day during the season (3.5 months - apr::mid-jul). For the past 3 years I've been in the Midwest out-there-nowhere US without a single mango passing through my lips.
I've held out so far.
No longer.
I know that a lot of the initial produce gets exported, a significant portion to the US. I just can't seem to find anyone online willing to ship it to me.
posted by Gyan at 6:19 AM on April 24, 2004
I've held out so far.
No longer.
I know that a lot of the initial produce gets exported, a significant portion to the US. I just can't seem to find anyone online willing to ship it to me.
posted by Gyan at 6:19 AM on April 24, 2004
Confessions of an Alphonso addict.
(Sorry, Gyan, this doesn't answer your question, but it does help to explain your desperation. You'll just have to take comfort from his final comment: "the difficulty of obtaining Alphonsos is part of their perfection".)
posted by verstegan at 6:33 AM on April 24, 2004
(Sorry, Gyan, this doesn't answer your question, but it does help to explain your desperation. You'll just have to take comfort from his final comment: "the difficulty of obtaining Alphonsos is part of their perfection".)
posted by verstegan at 6:33 AM on April 24, 2004
Response by poster: Hopefully ex-pat Indians (*wink*riffola*wink*) can provide some help.
posted by Gyan at 6:59 AM on April 24, 2004
posted by Gyan at 6:59 AM on April 24, 2004
You might try this site. They have fresh Alphonsos, and they do offer shipping to the US on at least some of their merchandise. It's not clear, though, if perishable fruit is shippable to the US.
There's also this site, which might end up being useful. It seems to be geared more towards foreign retailers, but you might find someone willing to FedEx you a box of mangoes. (Found this by Googling "fruit importer India".)
And finally, if you live anywhere near Chicago, you might consider making a trip to Devon Street sometime — the area is full of Indian grocers. If they can't help you find an Alphonso or two, nobody can.
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:13 AM on April 24, 2004
There's also this site, which might end up being useful. It seems to be geared more towards foreign retailers, but you might find someone willing to FedEx you a box of mangoes. (Found this by Googling "fruit importer India".)
And finally, if you live anywhere near Chicago, you might consider making a trip to Devon Street sometime — the area is full of Indian grocers. If they can't help you find an Alphonso or two, nobody can.
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:13 AM on April 24, 2004
Response by poster: I'm in NW Indiana, so Devon would be on the cards, if I had a car. Will now have to carjack someone. Oh well, that option's always there.
posted by Gyan at 10:13 AM on April 24, 2004
posted by Gyan at 10:13 AM on April 24, 2004
Best answer: Gyan, mangoes from India aren't allowed in the US due to bacteria change reasons. The US Customs will toss away and burn any fresh alphonso that is carried into the country. Try canned mangoes from your local Indian store.
posted by riffola at 11:24 AM on April 24, 2004
posted by riffola at 11:24 AM on April 24, 2004
If you don't mind non-Indian mangoes, you can pick some up at again Indian stores like Patel Brothers, Apna Bazar, or even some Latino stores. The ones that you get here are sort of like pyri or one of the other Maharashtrian varients, so it's not that bad.
You can have your family from home send you chunndo in a welded can, or even processed mango pulp in the same fashion.
We sadly rely on the canned alphonso & non-Indian versions here in NYC. I personally love alphonso & pyri are there any other kind worth having with hot steaming rotis?
posted by riffola at 11:30 AM on April 24, 2004
You can have your family from home send you chunndo in a welded can, or even processed mango pulp in the same fashion.
We sadly rely on the canned alphonso & non-Indian versions here in NYC. I personally love alphonso & pyri are there any other kind worth having with hot steaming rotis?
posted by riffola at 11:30 AM on April 24, 2004
I don't know Indian mangoes, but a student of mine from Aruba told me to not even bother with store-bought in the States. It is truly rare to find a decent Mango anywhere they aren't grown, at least in my experience. It is also a wonderful thing when you can get a ripe one!
I wonder if these are available in the UK? I will have to find out what this fuss is about. Will a mango become more ripe by sitting around? In a dark place or a bright one?
posted by Goofyy at 12:29 AM on April 25, 2004
I wonder if these are available in the UK? I will have to find out what this fuss is about. Will a mango become more ripe by sitting around? In a dark place or a bright one?
posted by Goofyy at 12:29 AM on April 25, 2004
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posted by j at 8:05 PM on April 23, 2004