1/Paneer and pav. Two Portuguese inventions I am very grateful for. Little did I know that I also had to thank the Portuguese for the Alphonso aam as well.
Curious about how the 🥭 revered by the aam aadmi came to have a Caucasian name I researched a bit. Here is what I found!👇
Curious about how the 🥭 revered by the aam aadmi came to have a Caucasian name I researched a bit. Here is what I found!👇
2/When the Portuguese first landed in India mangoes were a little bit..sucky. That is to say, Indians used to devour them by sucking their pulp.
These mushy mangos, while delicious, were hard to transport back home. The emperor demanded 🥭s that were easier for European exports.
These mushy mangos, while delicious, were hard to transport back home. The emperor demanded 🥭s that were easier for European exports.
3/ Portuguese priests who had settled in Goa then started experimenting with indigenous mangoes. This resulted in the origin of the world-famous Goan grafts of mangos.
They then sowed the seeds (quite literally) for the Alphonso aam that we all love.
They then sowed the seeds (quite literally) for the Alphonso aam that we all love.
4/Allegedly, the Portuguese priests then named the mango after Alfonso DeAlbuquerque.
Alfonso was the military general who established Portuguese colonies in Goa. Regarded as a "military genius" he then expanded his influence across India
The mangos were then exported to Europe
Alfonso was the military general who established Portuguese colonies in Goa. Regarded as a "military genius" he then expanded his influence across India
The mangos were then exported to Europe
5/ America only started importing Alphonso mangoes in 2007 after an 18-year ban.
This "sweet" deal was only possible due to a cross-country trade agreement. In exchange, India agreed to import the American Harley Davidson motorcycles.🏍️
This "sweet" deal was only possible due to a cross-country trade agreement. In exchange, India agreed to import the American Harley Davidson motorcycles.🏍️
6/Americans have to thank Bhaskar Savani, a dentist with a sweet tooth, for this trade deal
Bhaskar recounts his father coming out of the airport with his shirt stained yellow. His father tried to smuggle 🥭s but was caught. He then ate 3kgs of 🥭s rather than throwing them away
Bhaskar recounts his father coming out of the airport with his shirt stained yellow. His father tried to smuggle 🥭s but was caught. He then ate 3kgs of 🥭s rather than throwing them away
7/Bhaskar then went on a mission to overturn the ban. It came to fruition during the US-India Civil Nuclear Deal.
Amidst imp topics tabled for discussion, a literal 🥭 was also brought to the table. Bush called it a "hell of a fruit" & sealed the deal in exchange for Harleys 🏍️
Amidst imp topics tabled for discussion, a literal 🥭 was also brought to the table. Bush called it a "hell of a fruit" & sealed the deal in exchange for Harleys 🏍️
8/ Sources:
(1) On its Portuguese name: theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/w…
(2) Myles Karp writes on the Harley Davidson-mango deal & Bhaskar's mango mission here: vice.com/en/article/gyw…. He also writes about why good Alphonso mangoes are still hard to come by in the US.
(1) On its Portuguese name: theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/w…
(2) Myles Karp writes on the Harley Davidson-mango deal & Bhaskar's mango mission here: vice.com/en/article/gyw…. He also writes about why good Alphonso mangoes are still hard to come by in the US.
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