Enjoy Mango Season in Hawaii and some delicious recipes (updated)
Mango season in Hawaii is everyone’s favorite fruit to enjoy when it is finally in season on the islands. Kamaaina, locals and visitors anxiously look for them at their favorite farmers market, grocery store or even at a roadside stands selling fresh fruit when mangoes are finally in season on the islands.
When mangoes are in season from summer to early fall all around the islands, everyone goes mango crazy and wanting to try mangoes raw or in a popular Hawaiian food dish! You’ll want to try everything mango when mango season in Hawaii happens soon.
When is mango season in Hawaii?
Mangoes have a long harvest season that starts May until October with the peak happening around July and you’ll find them in all the markets and fruits stands around the islands. Did you know that there are over 60 varieties of mangoes growing in Hawaii? Not only are they eaten fresh but used in many sweet and savory dishes including meats, fish, vegetables and even incorporated into delicious breads and pastries.
The best Mango varieties grown in Hawaii
Even though there are over 60 varieties grown grown in Hawaii, the most common mangoes grown for commercial mangoes grown on the islands are the Hagen, Pirie and Rapoza varieties. These three top the list with all the extra flavor, good size and minimal fiber on each fruit.
What is the typical growing season for mangoes in Hawaii
Mango trees start to flower winter time from December to April with the first signs of fruit developing in May with the peak in July and even as late as October. You’ll find mangoes in many backyards, but they prefer dry and hot environments to fruit the best tasting mangoes on the islands. The growing season in Hawaii is nice with a good production cycle which gives us plenty of mangoes to eat from early summer until early fall.
Where to find the best mangoes in Hawaii
When they are finally in season, you’ll find the best mangoes at a local farmers market, roadside stands or popular grocery stores. In Hawaii this includes popular stores like Foodland, KTA, Sack and Save and even Whole Foods selling the best locally grown versions.
Besides eating mangoes fresh from a market, there are so many local favorite dishes that use mangoes in sweet or savory dishes. Check out some of the favorite recipes below to inspire you to try some of delicious mango recipes.
Basic nutritional value of mango fruit
Mangoes are highly nutritious and filled with vitamin many vitamins and nutrients to include:
Mangoes contain vitamins A, C, E, potassium and magnesium.
They have powerful antioxidants
A mango is a great source of carbohydrates. Just one cup of sliced mangoes will supply 45mg or about 100 percent of your daily vitamin C needs.
Mangoes are also low fat, low calorie and a cholesterol free source of the many nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants. This fruit helps in keeping you healthy and helps in preventing disease.
Here’s some fun Mango trivia
This well loved fruit is the most popular fruit in the world than any other fruit
Mangoes are related to the cashew and pistachio trees
Giving someone a basket of mangoes is considered a gesture of friendship
The nutritional value of the mango really depends on the variety and the maturity of the fruit. Unripe mangoes have more vitamin C content and when they ripen, they have more vitamin A
Mangoes are considered the king of fruits
The leaves of a mango are toxic so feeding animals and pets the leaves is not a good idea. Or even brushing up against the leaves can bring up allergic reactions from human contact.
Mangoes are thought to prevent insomnia and provides for better sleep
The Guinness World Records noted that the sweetness mango is the Philippine Carabao Mango as the tastiest, fiber free and sweet fruit.
The color of a mango is not always an indicator of ripeness since there are varieties that are ripe when they are still green in color.
The largest producer of mangoes are from India and followed surprisingly by China and then Indonesia and Pakistan.
Enjoy these delicious Mango recipes
Hope you get to try some of these delicious recipes above or even just eat fresh mangoes grown on the islands. Pineapple season in Hawaii is a fantastic time to enjoy these tropical fruits that you can get anywhere on the islands.
Hawaiian style mango bread
Mango pickles
Delicious local mango pie
Fast and easy mango mousse
Fresh mango shrimp ceveche
Please pin this for later
Check out these other Hawaii food topics
Looking for more food inspiration about Hawaii, check out these other topics below for you to discover and enjoy.
Popular Hawaii dishes you need to try
Hawaii chocolate making and tour
Have you visited Hawaii during mango season?
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I visited the Hawaiian Islands on a cruise about 12 years ago. I went on a rain forest tour and the guide picked a mango off a tree for us to sample. I had never tasted anything like it, so I picked up the pit and saved it. When I got back to Florida I germinated it and planted it in my yard. I have been harvesting mangoes from it for years and it is just as delicious as when I first tasted it many years ago. I think it may be a Pirie judging from it’s shape and color. I call it Lulu, after Honolulu where I think it came from.
Wow, that is amazing that you got fruit from this, most mangoes here only give the best fruit from grafted varieties because the seeds are unpredictable.
When my husband did his sabbatical in Hawaii (on Oahu) in 2014, we had the good sense to be there between from February until May, so I was able to take advantage of mango season. I’m afraid I never got past using mangoes for smoothies and in stir fries. I guess we’ll just have to return to try out your other recipes.
Definitely Mango season in Hawaii creates so many fun ways of preparing sweet or savory dishes
I love Mangoes. If the world was different now, we would have been there to enjoy the mangoes in season. Actually one of my favorite things to do when we travel is enjoy the local fruits in season. Perhaps in 2022, after a vaccine, we will attempt to visit Hawaii again.
Hope you get to visit Hawaii some day and enjoy mango season in Hawaii
I love mangoes but I’ve never had them fresh. And I didn’t know there was more than one variety!
Yes so many varieties, you need to experience mango season in Hawaii some day
What a delicious article you have presented on mango season in Hawaii. We never realized just how versatile this fruit was. Perhaps it is time to quit skipping over them at the market and give that Mango Bread recipe a shot.
Mangoes are perfect eaten raw or incorporated into sweet or savory dishes especially mangoes from Hawaii
Your mango photos look like still lifes! And the bread looks absolutely yummy!
Thanks, mango madness season is really popular here in Hawaii
Had no idea how many varieties of mangoes — and in such beautiful colors. If I can get some mangoes I’ll have to try the pie recipe since I happen to have a frozen pie crust in the freezer (I know, I should make my own).
A pie recipe sounds good especially when mangoes are used from Hawaii
Oh that Mango bread looked fabulous!
Mango anything is amazing and mango season in Hawaii is just around the corner.
Wonderful post! I truly love mangoes. Thx for the recipes as well. I’ve pinned them for future reference.
Hey Doreen, hope you can use the recipes and even visit for mango season in Hawaii some day