New Kind of Mango

May 20, 2009

I’ve been having a wonderful time visiting with old friends during my time in Kentucky. This week I stopped by the house of a very good friend to meet her new baby girl. Well, not exactly new. She’s nine months old and this was my first opportunity to meet her!

While we were talking my friend started to tell me about Champagne® Mangos. I had never heard of them. Being the sweetheart that she is, she gave me one to try. She described them as incredibly unique and addicting. She’s only found them at two places in town (Whole Foods and Meijer) and they are only available for a couple months out of the year.

I combined what she told me with a little of my own research about the Champagne® Mango. First of all the term “Champagne” is a registered trademark. Kind of interesting for a fruit. They are grown in Mexico and claim to be different than other varieties of mangos.

From the description on the web-site:

It has a spicy-sweet flavor, buttery texture and, unlike other varieties of
mangos, it is free of annoying seed fibers.

We have a smaller variety of mango in Brazil which I don’t know the name of, but I didn’t find it too exciting and decided to stick with the Tommy variety. So I was interested in this Champagne® Mango, but a bit skeptical of its ability to be so unique.

Well, I ate it in the hotel room and if you’ve ever tried to do this without a knife I wouldn’t recommend it. However, the mango was very ripe and I was actually able to open and scoop it out with a spoon.


The fruit meets the description in every way! There is this underlying spicy flavor that hangs on your tongue just a bit as that sweet familiar mango flavor takes over. The inside is so creamy. It wasn’t fibrous like many mangos tend to be. Each bite literally melted in my mouth.

This is a mango I wouldn’t dream of using in a recipe. It deserves to be eaten fresh to appreciate its texture and flavor. I’m so hooked I’m going to swing by Whole Foods (we don’t have one in my hometown) before I leave here to try and get some for the rest of my stay in the States.

Have you tried this variety of mango? What did you think?

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So of course all of this mango talk comes just in time for your last reminder about the Mango Challenge. Thanks so much for all the amazing entries so far! If you haven’t submitted your recipe, you still have time. All entries are due by Friday, May 22nd at 12:00pm CST. I’m happy to say all the goodies from Brazil made the trip well in my suitcase. I can’t wait to share them!

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  • Samantha May 20, 2009 at 7:12 am

    Mmm! Those sound amazing! I love mangos, but I’m in Canada for the next few months so frozen seems to be the safest bet. Our produce kind of sucks here.

  • 5 Star Foodie May 20, 2009 at 7:24 am

    Wow, those champagne mangoes sound incredible! I hope they have them in Wegmans, but if not, I’ll visit Whole Foods. I have to try them!

  • Sweta May 20, 2009 at 7:46 am

    Yup-we get it here at the Safeway store. I would rate it as the best among the mangoes I’ve tasted here in the U.S. The texture,aroma,colour are closest to the Indian mangoes(though lacks in sweetness).The Scarlet Sweet mangoes are comparatively sweeter 🙂
    Do try and search for the Indian mangoes,esp Alphonso/Aapus(I’ve heard you get them in the bigger cities in the U.S).

  • Emily May 20, 2009 at 8:28 am

    I will have to check WFM for those mango’s! It is definitely a fruit I have started to enjoy more!

  • Erica May 20, 2009 at 8:35 am

    LOVE mangoes- I def want to try this. Sounds really interesting.

  • Alison May 20, 2009 at 10:35 am

    I MUST remember to post recipes for your challenge. I have three. I’ve seen those mangoes but haven’t tried them. Maybe I’ll pick one up this weekend.

  • Rebekka May 20, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    Sounds like the texture of a persimmon almost? Your description is so good, I am going to start SEARCHING for them now! Great blog!

  • Reeni♥ May 20, 2009 at 6:32 pm

    I’ve never heard of them! They look rich and luscious. I meant to enter your contest and left the market without any mangoes today. I was so mad at myself.

  • Tangled Noodle May 20, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    These look a lot like Philippine mangoes with that bright gold/yellow skin! I’ve seen them at the Asian market (but haven’t bought any yet since they sometimes look a little beaten up); I’ll check WF and hope they’re available. I love mangoes!

  • Meghan (Making Love In The Kitchen) May 20, 2009 at 7:35 pm

    That does sound amazing. I have three ripe mangoes ready to go for the challenge. Got to get creative on this.

  • sangeeta May 21, 2009 at 12:03 am

    i just love mangoes…….this ine seems good……dunno if it is better than the indian varieties.check out mu mango salad.

  • kat May 21, 2009 at 5:44 am

    How interesting. It does seem much easier to eat than the regular ones

  • Michelle @ Find Your Balance May 21, 2009 at 9:22 am

    Those look similar to a mango type I’ve been finding at Whole Foods. For the life of me I can’t remember what they are called but it’s not Champagne. So maybe it’s different? Delicious anyway!

  • Lori May 21, 2009 at 11:45 am

    Samantha – Interesting to know. I’ve had some pretty good frozen mango before. 🙂

    5 Star – They really are wonderful. Hope you can find them!

    Sweta – That’s good to know. I had no idea how available they are. It sounds like they can be found here and there. I will definitely keep my eye out for the Indian mangos!

    Emily – Maybe they will have it at the new one that opened in Chicago. 🙂

    Erica – Definitely try them. You will love them!

    Alison – Yes! Please do. Can’t wait to see them.

    Rebekka – Thanks for your comment. I’ve only had persimmons in Brazil, but the texture of the mango was much more creamy. It could have been the variety I tried though.

    Reeni – So sorry! I hope to have more contests for sure.

    Tangled Noodle – I know what you mean. They can get like that in Brazil too. Some are just too ripe and bruised.

    Meghan – Can’t wait to see them!

    sangeeta – I’m so interested to get my hands on an Indian variety!

    kat – Yes, I was really surprised how easily it scooped out. Perfect for my situation. 🙂

    Michelle – Hmmm…if you find out the name of the variety, let us know. Maybe the other ones you get are more like the small ones I can get in Brazil.

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