Mango: A Global History

by Constance L. Kirker, Mary Newman

From smoothies to folklore, a global history of the many incarnations of the mango.

This beautifully illustrated book takes us on a tour through the rich world of mangoes, which inspire fervent devotion across the world. In South Asia, mangoes boast a history steeped in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, even earning a mention in the Kama Sutra. Beyond myth, the authors show us that mangoes hold literary significance as a potent metaphor. While mango-flavored smoothies grace Western grocery shelves, the true essence of sweet, juicy mangoes or tangy, unripe varieties is a rarity: supermarket offerings often prioritize shelf-life over taste.

This book offers an accessible introduction to the world of true mango aficionados and the thousand varieties they cherish.

Genres: History, Food, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2024

Reviews

[Swarun · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love mangeos and you love reading anything remotely connected to mangoes, this is the book.

The book reads like a list of wikipedia disambiguations and a discrete list of facts related to mangoes - never goes into depth, but has enough to pique your research interests.

I honestly liked this as an easy bit of research, so the concise nature was perfect for me.

[Piku Sonali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short book with wonderful pictures, loads of information, and history about the greatest fruit in the world.