Forget the parmi vs parma debate – come summer, Australia’s real food controversy is which mango reigns supreme. Is it the blushing Kensington Pride with its old-school charm? The mellow sweetness of a Honey Gold? Or perhaps the ruby-red allure of a Calypso has stolen your heart (and stained your shirt)?

With mango season transforming Aussie fruit bowls from November through March, we’re spoilt for choice. Yet many of us grab whatever’s on special at the supermarket without realising we’re navigating a deliciously complex world of flavour profiles, textures and colours. Some mangoes are rich with sweet nostalgia, others buttery smooth and modern. Some demand to be eaten over the sink, while others slice elegantly into a summer salad.

So whether you’re team ‘KP or Nothing’, or are more of an adventurous variety-hopper, let’s dive into the kaleidoscopic world of Australian mangoes, and uncover what makes each one special.

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Credit: Brett Stevens

Kensington Pride

One of the most popular mango varieties and, some would say, the most superior. This juicy beauty is at peak availability from September to February. It’s sometimes called the Bowen mango, as it was first discovered in the Bowen region of Queensland. Usually medium in size, with yellow-to-orange skin and a blush of pink, you can tell Kensingtons are ripe when they have that deliciously strong mango-ey aroma that makes you think immediately of summer and Christmas. The vibrantly yellow flesh is sweet and tangy, with delectable juice that runs down your wrists, just the way it should.

Credit: Woolworths

Calypso

According to Woolworths, this is the most popular variety, with peak availability from September to March. This variety was developed in Queensland through a cross with Kensington Pride and a US variety called Sensation. The yellowy-orange skin of these medium-sized fruits comes with a beautifully deep pink blush, while the matching yellowy-orange flesh is firm, with no stringy bits, and a refreshingly sweet and juicy flavour. A smaller seed than other varieties, with extra large cheeks, means more mango-bango for your buck. You can tell Calypsos are ripe when there’s no green tinge left in the skin, and they feel slightly soft to the touch.

Credit: iStock

R2E2

Likely a favourite among Star Wars fanatics, these are available from October to February. Developed in Queensland in the 1980s, they’re larger and rounder than some other mangoes, and the skin is also more orange, tinged with red. The firm yellow flesh has a sweet, fresh flavour that’s milder than some other varieties. You can tell when these are ripe when the skin gives slightly to gentle pressure.

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Credit: Alan Jensen

Keitt

The Keitt is usually on the larger size, with a greener skin that develops a pink-orange blush as it ripens. They’re at peak availability for a shorter period, from January to March. The sweet, mild flavour of these mangoes has a touch of tang and a hint of honey, and the flesh is firm – making it good for slicing – without stringy fibres. You can tell when Keitts are ripe when the skin gives slightly to gentle pressure.

Credit: Piñata Farms

Honey Gold

These large, firm mangoes live up to their name, with a golden yellow-orange skin. Developed in Queensland in the 1990s, they’re a cross between a Kensington Pride and another mystery mango. They’re at peak availability from November to March. The firm flesh is also golden yellow, and richly sweet and juicy, with honey notes. A high flesh-to-seed ratio brings good value, they’re easy to slice, and keep their shape when cut. You can tell when Honey Golds are ripe when they get that delectable mango scent, the skin becomes golden all over, and they feel slightly soft to the touch.

Parvin

It may be on the small side, but the Parvin is still a juicy little beauty. You’ll recognise it from its yellow, pearl-flecked skin that comes with an orange-to-red blush. The firm yellow flesh is sweet and tangy, with no stringy fibres. But you’ll have to be quick to enjoy them – Parvins are only available around February. You can tell when they’re ripe when the skin gives slightly to gentle pressure. 

Ruby Gold

A new variety that’s launched this season, the Ruby Gold originally came from a branch mutation on a Kensington Pride mango tree on a mango farm in Far North Queensland. A decade of grafting, planting and testing followed, and this blushing beauty is now ready to hit supermarkets. It’s described as having a stronger Kensington Pride flavour, with less fibrous stringiness. Seek it out this summer, as Ruby Golds are expected to be available in supermarkets by December.

Credit: Brett Stevens

Kent

Another mango that can be on the larger size, Kents are also pretty to look at, with a red to purple blush that develops as they ripen. A late-season variety, they’re available from January to March. The low-fibre yellow flesh is sweet, rich and buttery, with plenty of juice. You can tell when a Kent mango is ripe when the skin gives slightly to gentle pressure, and there’s a lovely tropical aroma around the stem.

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Credit: Oursteps

Maha Bliss

The unusually shaped Maha Bliss mango is longer than fan-favourites Calypso, Kensington Pride and R2E2, but with a significantly smaller seed pod. It’s the the Australian clone of a popular Thai mango called mahachanok, prized for their super sweet flavour, floral aroma, nearly fibreless flesh and almost impossibly thin seed. They’re available exclusively at Woolworths from August to December, but supply is limited. 

Credit: Woolworths

Lady Jane

Developed by a Northern Territory mango breeder in the 1990s, Lady Jane may not yet show her face much here in Australia, but she’s making waves overseas, where she’s being produced commercially in Spain. This round lovely has a lovely red-orange blush to it, and the apricot-coloured flesh has a rich, sweet flavour and smooth texture, with a smaller-then-average seed. Keep an eye out for them at Woolies, where they’re available exclusively for a limited time only over summer.

Credit: @manbullooprojectflavour

Other varieties to look out for

The National Mango Breeding Program developed three new varieties of mangoes known as Yess! AhHa! and Now!, and were clearly named by someone who has never turned down the chance to use an exclamation point when an opportunity presented itself. They were first developed more than 25 years ago, but were only recently approved for commercial development. They’re being produced by Manbulloo Mangoes, which has farms across Northern Australia. Volumes are currently small, but are expected to grow. If you spot one, be sure to grab it.

Stay sweet, mango-lovers. And make sure you savour every juicy golden bite this summer.

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