Once summer comes around, bright, sweet and fragrant mangoes can be found in houses across Pakistan. However, getting just the right mango requires a little bit of work, but with the right tips, you can nail it every time.

Here's a quick guide to help you buy sweet and juicy mangoes

The Dos:

Feel the Ripeness

You might be attracted by how a mango looks, but in using looks as a primary factor you may miss out. The most important characteristic in helping you find a good mango is the way it feels. If the fruit feels hard upon squeezing, it is not ripe yet and will not taste as good.  Mangoes should feel a bit soft like peaches when you squeeze them slightly.

Smell the Aroma

The next part is to check the aroma. Ripe mangoes are characterized by a sweet, fruity smell at the stem. If the fruit doesn't smell sweet and fragrant, it is either unripe or overripe.

Timing is Key

While mangoes begin to appear in the market end of May you should know the best time to buy each kind. You can find the best Dussehris in the market from June to July. While the best Chaunsas and Langras in the market is available between July and August.

The don'ts:

Don’t Go for Colour

You may be tempted to pick up the brightest, yellowest mango of the lot, but this isn’t actually going to do you much good. As each variety of mango ripens at a different colour that is unique to it, going after colour is really just shooting in the dark. 

Black Spots

Avoid mangoes with wrinkles and black spots at all costs. This is because these mangoes have been harvested too early and in effect, no good.

Share your tried and trusted tips with us and let us know if we missed any in the comment!

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• Mishael Qadeer

An avid foodie, filmmaker, and journalist, dedicated to answering all your food-related questions.