Real mango or fake mango: 7 easy steps to detect at home

As the sun soars high above our heads and we are drenched in the icky sweat, it’s also time to welcome the favourite fruit of the season that makes this scorching summer a lot more bearable. But before our excitement for the king of fruits, mango reaches at peak, it’s time to know whether these golden, luscious mangoes are safe for consumption.

With more and more chemically ripened fruit entering the market, it’s almost impossible not to second-guess the authenticity and originality of a food before consumption. During the peak season, with the heightened demand, mangoes are artificially ripened with toxic chemicals like calcium carbide to ensure sufficient production. Such chemically ripened fruits create a number of health hazards, varying from headaches and nausea to permanent damage to the liver and kidneys.

Here are some easy steps shared by experts to identify naturally ripened and artificially tampered mangoes

 Shape and Size

Organically ripened mangoes usually retain a uniform shape according to their variety, usually oval or kidney-shaped with soft curves. For instance, Alphonso mangoes are usually smaller and spherical in shape, whereas other types can seem slightly longer in shape. Conversely, chemically ripened mangoes will seem unrealistically large or deformed since they are usually artificially watered or treated with chemicals to increase their size and weight.

Skin Colour and Shine

To find out the originality of a mango, the colour of the fruit can be a good indicator to detect. Naturally ripened mangoes display a variety of colours like yellow, orange, red, or green, based on the type of variety and ripening stage. Mango that is naturally ripened will have a non-uniform but well-balanced tone of colour.  Artificially ripened mangoes, however, display a uniform bright colour with an unnatural sheen at times due to the application of wax or chemical coatings to make them appear fresh.

Smell Test

Another indicator to determine the genuineness of a mango is by its smell. A naturally ripened, has a sweet, tropical fragrance, particularly around the stem. If a mango does not have this fragrance or smells chemical-like, it might be because it has synthetic ripening agents like calcium carbide, which are known to inhibit natural aroma.

Texture and Firmness

When pressed gently, a naturally ripened mango will be soft at the stem yet firm everywhere else. whereas a chemically ripened mango, might have that odd firmness with no slight yield, or it will be too soft and mushy because of irregular ripening. The peel of imitations is also abnormally smooth and shiny.

Stem Appearance

Another indicative sign is the stem area. A natural mango has a dried, small stem that appears natural. Mangoes with unusually thick or shiny stems could have been manipulated during the ripening process.

Surface Imperfections

Organic mangoes can have slight skin defects, such as tiny black spots, small dents, or wrinkles on the surface. These are not defects but a result of natural growth. On the other hand, mangoes that look too good-smelling, smoothingly even and spotless are probably treated.

The Water Test

A home trick to ensure a mango is authentic is the water test. Put the mango in a bowl of water. Authentic mangoes tend to sink or float, while chemically treated mangoes tend to float as a result of enhanced water uptake.

Howver, if you are still confused after all these tests, it is recommended that consumers buy mangoes from reputable dealers or certified markets that focus on organic and natural ripening methods.

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