Someone I recently met here in Ghana said she missed some berries from home. I was surprised:
How can you miss any berry or fruit when there is sun ripe mangoes ?, I asked.
This time of year in Ghana might be dusty and “cold” (as low as… brrr… 25 degrees celsius), but it does bring something invaluable…
…Mango season!
I love the small ones, the big ones, the reddish ones and the still green. I like the ones that smell like pine sap and sunshine. With time you learn how to predict how the stone stands in the middle of the lovely fruit. You cut close to it and have a big chunck of sweet fruit. I like cutting thin wedges, but sometimes I do diagonal squares and gently push the half inside out. The sun colored fruit begs to be eaten! The consistency of a perfectly ripen mango is velvety and smooth. The feeling when you dig into a mango half and the juice drips along your hands, arms towards your elbows…
The big ones are 50 pesewas a pop at the fruit stand opposite my house. You want one?
Pic borrowed from YKWYA.
2 Comments
I find it very interesting and amusing to read your Scandinavian description of mango. I think I would describe the Northern European fruits a little bit like that–not with the flavor of sunshine, like you so perfectly describe, but just as amazed with your fruits as you are with mine. Ok, ok, I am not Ghanian, but coming from a Caribbean city, where Mango trees grow wild everywhere, I know exactly what you mean. Now that you mention it, I would really appreciate a mango right now 🙂
The small ones are always the best! In Colombia they are called “Mango de azucar” (sugar Mango) because they are super sweet and melt in your mouth…undescribably delish!!