Mmmango

Today I relished every sticky mouthful of my first mango of the season.

Mangoes epitomise summer to me. Their cheerful golden colour like sunshine, their irresistable heady perfume, their inevitable stickiness of messy consumption. Summer isn't summer unless you've licked all your sticky fingers and only then noticed the mango stain on your t-shirt.

When I lived in London I couldn't understand why noone over there liked mangoes. Then I bought my first mango from Sainsburys and understood why. Air-freighted mangoes from Africa are not very sweet =)

The majority of Australian mangoes are grown in Queensland, although the first crops come from the Northern Territory (like today's) and the last ones from northern New South Wales.

Mango season is at its peak in mid-December when fruit shops abound with trays upon tray of my favourite fruit. After Christmas, supply starts to peter out rapidly.

But the mango season has only just begun and boy am I excited.

Bring on the mangoes! Life is good again!

Your mango facts for the day:
Mangoes are part of the poison ivy family.
Mango skin or sap can cause dermatitis in some people.
Paisley designs are said to be based on the shape of a mango.