Indian mango tree (Magnifera indica)

Other names: Mango

The Indian mango tree, also known as the mango (Magnifera indica), is an evergreen tropical and subtropical tree native to South Asia. This tree is known for its sweet and juicy fruits, which are popular all over the world. Mangoes can grow to a height of 35-40 metres and their root system can reach a depth of up to 6 metres. Its fruit is a large berry with a hard, woody seed in the middle that can weigh up to 2 kilograms. The colour of the fruit varies from green to yellow to red depending on maturity and variety.

The fruits of the Indian mango tree are used in a wide range of products. They are most often eaten fresh, where their sweet and fragrant flesh forms the basis of many desserts and drinks. Mangoes are also often dried and used as a healthy snack or processed into juice, jam, marinades and sauces. In the culinary industry, mangoes are also used in their unripe state, where the flesh has a rather sour taste and is suitable for savoury dishes. An example of such a dish is a Thai salad made from unripe mangoes. It is also used to make alcoholic beverages such as wine and liqueur. The bark of the tree and the leaves are used in traditional medicine to treat various skin diseases and to chew to clean the teeth.