The Mango. A decadent and lush fruit that is beloved amongst the masses. The sweet, succulent drupe has risen through the ranks and become a staple in many households globally. A member of the cashew and pistachio family, people reach for fresh, frozen, and liquefied forms of mango daily. But has anyone ever stopped to wonder where this magical fruit came from? How did the large, oval-like seeds come to grace this Earth? The history is, in fact, quite interesting. 

   The origins of the mango are found in the Hindu-Burma region about 5,000 years ago. This region spanned across southern China, eastern India, and Southeast Asia. It was considered to be sacred in this area where Buddhism was practiced because Buddha was said to have meditated under a mango tree when he reached enlightenment. 

   The fruit traveled globally with the spice trade and was brought to different regions in Asia, East Africa, and South America. 

   Fast forward to 1498, the first official mango trade was established in Calcutta by the Portuguese and, by the 1600s, was spread all across Mexico and South America by Spanish explorers. 

   The current countries in which mangos are primarily grown are Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Haiti, and Peru. This is due to the fact that the climate in these areas is tropical, which is where the fruit thrives. 

   Mangoes are formed by an outer skin, with edible flesh and a center stone that holds the large seed. The fruit grows on trees and is harvested about once a year when matured. Picked by hand, the mango ripens off of the tree. 

   Today, mangoes have become worldwide delicacies and are used in many dishes, including mango salsa, mango lassi, mango sticky rice, and more.