Langra Mango -Erakina

The Langra Mango is a luscious, delectable fruit with sweet flesh that is sheer temptation. It’s a delicacy enjoyed all around the world for its farm freshness and sweet flesh. It’s chock full of vitamins and minerals. Its delicate, succulent pulp and greenish yellow colour make it a great summer snack. 

Juicy Langra Mangoes of Indian Subcontinent

Mango and its various kinds

Mango is a tropical stone fruit produced by the Mangifera indica tree, which is alleged to own originated within the region between northern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. There are hundreds of mango cultivars worldwide. Mango fruits vary in size, shape, taste, skin colour, and flesh colour, which can be pale yellow, gold, green, or orange, depending on the cultivar. The mango tree is the national tree of Bangladesh, while the mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. 

About 1500 different mango varieties are grown in India, and each one has its distinct flavour and taste. As the summer heats up, a plethora of mango varieties, such as Dasheris, Chausas, Alphonsos, Safeda, and Tota Pari, overwhelm the marketplaces. Langra, a medium-sized, oval-shaped, green-coloured type with an odd but appealing name, is another interesting yet pleasant variety. 

Langra Mango 

The Langra mango, also known as Banarasi Langra, is mostly grown in Varanasi, or Banaras, Northern India. The Langra Mango is also known as the Malda Mango in some parts of northern India and Bihar, referring to the town of Malda in West Bengal. 

Langra is a medium-sized fruit with an oval form and a green tint. The Langra’s beautiful lemon-yellow flesh is extremely juicy and flavourful. When mature, the flesh is fibreless, yellowish brown, and has a pungent odour. It is naturally quite sweet and soft when compared to other mango varieties. The seed is tiny in size and oval in shape. When Langra ripens, it retains its green tint, whereas other mangoes turn yellow-reddish. 

Oval-shaped, medium-sized Langra Mangoes with its green tint

In states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, West Bengal, and Rajasthan, this pulpy fruit is grown in the middle of the season. It’s usually picked in the second half of July. The Langra Mango is available from May to August and comes in a variety of sizes ranging from medium to huge. They should be kept at room temperature. 

Langra Mangoes have a naturally rich flavour, a silky texture, and a sensuous juicy pulp. The lovely tropical fruit, known for its large size, will quench your summer thirst. Westerners prefer this fruit since it is less sweet and more to their liking. It can be used for slicing and canning.

It contains beta-carotene and other phytonutrients, as well as a large variety of carotenoids. The stem ends of ripe mangoes have a pleasant scent and are softer. Before eating, check for it. Because of its juicy nature, it’s great for making juices and shakes.

Mango juice or Aam Panna or Panha in a transparent glass with Langra Mango

The Advantages of Langra Mango 

• Vitamins A and E are important for maintaining a healthy heart and vision. 

• Cholesterol levels are controlled.

• It relieves gastrointestinal discomfort due to its low dietary fibre content.

The Story Behind Its Queer Name

Many of us may be perplexed as to why this weird name exists. Langra is a Hindi term that translates to “lame”. The origin of Langra is thought to be in Banaras. According to Padma Shri Haji Kali Mullah Khan, a senior mango planter, the story of how this kind of mango received its name dates back a few hundred years. 

Some 250–300 years ago, a lame man ate a mango and sowed the seed in his backyard. In a village near Banaras, this lame farmer was known as “langra” by his peers and acquaintances. The tree produced tasty and meaty fruits. The tree and its fruit, as well as this particular variation, became known as the Langra variety throughout time.

He further claims that, while Langra mango is well known and available throughout the country, the mangoes cultivated on the Banarasi property have a distinct and original flavour that cannot be found elsewhere. 

Simran Jain 

20 May 2022