Sometimes, you get what you pay for. Before experiencing the exceptional Alphonso, we had no idea how extraordinary mangoes could be—especially compared to standard supermarket varieties.
But this sparked our curiosity: what are the world's rarest and most expensive mangoes?
In this article, we'll take a look at the luxury mango market (or mango VIPs). We'll cover the top 5 most pampered mangoes, what makes them special, and why people are willing to spend so much on them.
How much!? Why These Luxury Mangoes Are So Expensive
Your run-of-the-mill supermarket mango in the UK usually hovers around £1 per mango, but the infamous Japanese Miyazaki mango can retail for anything from £50 to £100+ for a single mango.
In the UK, it’s extremely hard to find the Miyazaki and many other mangoes on this list. If you are able to get them, they’ll likely be even more expensive due to added air freight costs.
What justifies such high prices for a single piece of fruit?
There are several reasons why these mangoes are far more expensive than your average variety.
Seasonality
Rarer mangoes tend to have a short growing season, which limits the time they can be harvested. This creates a situation where demand far exceeds supply. The shorter the window, the more desirable and rarer the fruit becomes, allowing suppliers to charge premium prices.
Environment
Secondly, their growing location and environment. This can range from an exact mix of soil nutrition, to rainfall amount, to humidity and heat. Alphonso mangos, for example, only grow in the western coastal regions of India. This area benefits from a wet monsoon season, shortly followed by a very hot and dry season which is one of the conditions required to produce such incredible fruit.
Farming methods
A luxury fruit needs luxury pampering. These mangoes are often hand-picked and hand-pollinated, which increases labour costs resulting in prices skyrocketing. The external appearance of the fruit is also very important, with customers demanding perfection in look and taste for such an expensive item.
Top 5 Most Expensive Mango Varieties in the World
Get your wallets ready and let’s dive in.
1. Miyazaki Mango (Japan)
Price: Starting at £50+ per mango but varies on type. The highest recorded selling price was 600,000 yen for two in 2023. That makes an eyewatering £1500 per mango!
What makes them so special?
The name Miyazaki refers to the prefecture in southern Japan where these mangoes are grown. They are strikingly red, ranging from dark ruby to lighter shades, depending on growing conditions. Each mango typically weighs between 300-500g.
The flesh is incredibly soft, velvety, and non-fibrous, with a sweetness that ranks among the highest of any mango. Alongside the intense sweetness, there are complex sour notes - some describing the taste as tropical, with hints of coconut and pineapple.
Only the very best, most uniform in size and colour, are awarded the prestigious "Taiyo no Tamago," or "Egg of the Sun" title. These top-quality mangoes fetch the highest prices and are often given as luxury gifts in Japan.
How they are grown:
The soils in Miyazaki are particularly well-suited for growing these exceptional mangoes. The subtropical climate features extremely fertile soils, heavy rainfall, warm temperatures, and lots of sunlight.
However, it’s not just the climate that matters. Growing these mangoes requires a lot of hard work and meticulous care. The mangoes are kept in greenhouses and even placed in individual nets with reflector panels to ensure a uniform colour.
Additionally, they are never picked directly from the tree. They are harvested only when ripe and ready, where they are allowed to fall naturally into the supporting nets.
2. Alphonso Mango (India)
Price: In the UK, the cost is typically £2-3 per mango or around £25 for a box of 12. Prices can vary depending on the season and stock availability. In India, prices are much lower, but air freight costs increase the price when they are shipped to Europe.
What makes them so special?
Nicknamed the ‘King of Mangos’ or ‘Hapus’ mango, the Alphonso is often cited as one of the best-tasting mangoes in the world. Even Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay is a fan:
"The Alphonso mango is a stunning fruit. When it's in season, there’s nothing like the sweetness and the complexity of flavour it brings to dishes. It's perfect in both classic and contemporary recipes." – Gordon Ramsey
Alphonso mangos are generally oval or oblong shaped, with one end slightly pointed. They are a little smaller than many commercially grown mangos. The skin is a vibrant yellow when ripe, with shades of green-yellow when ripening. The fragrance is striking and hits you with anticipation when you open the box.
The flesh of the fruit is smooth, soft, almost buttery, and creamy. There are no fibres or stringiness to this mango and it has a depth of flavour that is more complicated than most.
Many commercial mangoes are simply "one-note sweet", but the Alphonso offers a satisfying sweetness along with a complexity and subtle tartness that keeps you coming back for more.
How they are grown:
Western India, particularly the Maharashtra region, is the birthplace of these exceptional fruits.
Several factors make this area ideal for growing Alphonso mangoes. The soil is rich in minerals, and the tropical climate is consistently humid with a long dry season, complemented by a nourishing monsoon period.
This combination of wet and hot conditions encourages the fruits to grow. Additionally, the Arabian Sea brings in cooler breezes and extra humidity, which benefits the fruit.
Generations of farmers have developed their expertise in cultivating these mangoes, and the fruit is handpicked to ensure it remains undamaged.
3. Kohitor Mango (India)
Price: Between £20 to £100 per mango. Depending on the harvest.
What makes them so special?
This mango is exceptionally rare. Originally a hybrid variety bred for royalty, there is no recorded history of it being available for sale in the UK, and it’s likely it never will be. The rarity of this mango means it is largely kept within India.
But how does it taste? Apparently, so succulent that you don't even need to use your teeth to enjoy it—it simple melts in your mouth.
Known as the Kohitur mango, it is described as a "jewel in the mouth" by the Telegraph India. It offers a perfect blend of sweet and sour with an incredible fragrance.
Handling this mango involves strict protocols, including wrapping it in cotton wool once picked and using a wooden knife to cut it, to avoid damaging this prized fruit.
How they are grown:
Grown in the West Bengal region of India, this fruit is notoriously difficult to cultivate. The challenges in growing it affect annual production levels, which fluctuate from year to year. This imbalance between high demand and limited supply keeps the price exceptionally high.
The mangoes are handpicked and wrapped in cotton wool to protect them. Due to their delicate nature, they bruise easily and do not travel well. This means they struggle to be transported even within India, let alone internationally.
4. Sindhri Mango (Pakistan)
Price: Between £3 a mango up to £20 per mango.
What makes them so special?
In some ways, the Singhri mango is similar to the Alphonso, adding fuel to the fierce rivalry over whether Indian or Pakistani mangoes are better. The Singhri mango is also oval-shaped and turns a bright yellow when ripe. However one main difference is that Singhri mangoes are generally larger than Alphonso mangoes.
These mangoes are grown exclusively in the Sindh region of Pakistan, where the climate is ideal for their cultivation. The harvest period is short and labour intensive, coupled with high demand, this drives up the price.
So, how does it taste? The texture is described as soft, buttery, and virtually fiberless, with a very sweet flesh and a strong, enticing fragrance. While excellent, the Singhri mango is, in our experience, slightly less complex than the Alphonso.
How they are grown:
The Singhri mangoes originate from the Sindh region of Pakistan, which has a tropical to subtropical climate with the ideal soil, humidity, sunlight, and rainfall needed for their cultivation.
Farmers care for the mangoes with great attention, ensuring proper soil drainage, watering, and protection from wind to allow the trees to produce the best possible fruits. Additionally, the mangoes are handpicked to avoid any damage before reaching customers.
5. Keo Savoy Mango (Thailand)
Price: £5 - £10 per mango
What makes them so special?
The Keo Savoy mango is a large fruit with green skin that turns a greenish-yellow when fully ripe. It can weigh up to half a kilo each.
This mango can be enjoyed in two ways: used when less ripe in spicy, fragrant salads, or fully ripe, served with Thai sticky rice. It’s one of the most popular choices for this dish, where it is paired with coconut rice and drizzled with coconut cream.
The flavour is sweet and creamy with tropical notes and a hint of tang.
How they are grown:
These mangoes are predominantly grown in Thailand, particularly in the southeastern regions of Chanthaburi and Rayong. They can also be cultivated in other Southeast Asian countries.
They require a tropical climate with heat, sunlight, and humidity. Like most mangoes, they benefit from a well-defined dry season, which helps the plants produce the most productive fruits.
Summary
Whether you're a fan of the Miyazaki from Japan or the Keo Savoy mango from Thailand, each offers something unique. The prices of these luxury mangoes may be high, but they also demonstrate how cherished the mango is in many cultures.
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