100 Varieties of Local Mangoes Available in Kerala

Mango tree – The tree which reserves sweetness in its fruits and shade in its branches. Mango is called ‘Maanga’ in Malayalam, and Mango tree as ‘Maav’. Local varieties called ‘Naattu Maav’ own many specialties in abundance. Their fruits are pesticide-free, sweet without any artificial flavours and trees also provide shade to many living beings. But nowadays such local varieties have already started vanishing and hybrid varieties are in need. Read more to know. Through this column I would like to give a brief note on local varieties of mangoes, known by name ‘Naattu Maanga/ Naattu Maangakal’ in Malayalam language.

1. Chandrakaaran – One of the most common and popular mangoes locally available in Kerala. These small sized bananas are excellent for eating as fruit and for preparing dishes such as Maambazha Pulissery, Kaduku Maanga etc. Its seeds are big. Earlier Chandrakaaran was commonly available in all homes across Kerala, especially old Tharavad (ancestral homes). But now this variety is almost extinct. This variety make branches from bottom, and have mangoes in bunches. It’s a spectacular scene to watch mango branches hanging from trees. Its aroma is very pleasant.

2. Kilichundan – Its tip resembles the beak of birds, and hence known by the name Kilichundan maambazham. Kilichundan means beak of a bird in Malayalam language. It’s used to make pickles and make curries.  

3. Moovandan – Yet another common mango of Kerala, Moovandan is deeply linked with Kerala culture too. It takes only three years for its tree to blossom. That’s why this mango variety got this name (‘Moonnu’ means three and ‘Aand’ means year). They grow as branches, and filled with leaves. They show moderate amount of sour, fiber and sweetness in fruits, and can also be used to prepare dishes. They can be used as Kanni Maanga (small types used for pickles and kondattam), green mango to prepare pickles and many vegetarian/non-vegetarian dishes and as fruit. Moovandan grows in any condition and varieties such as blue (neela moovandan), black (karutha moovandan) and white (velutha moovandan) are available.

4. Varikka (Panchasaara Varikka) – Known by both these names, they are small type of mango trees. Seen as bunches, their similarities to sugar earned the name Panchasaara Varikka. They are medium-sized mangoes.

5. Kottukonam – Its real name is Kotturkonam. The most popular variety of south Kerala and is quite similar to Varikka. Very often these names are interchanged and used. The tree has so many branches and bears many mangoes as well. Mango’s skin is thick and is less-sour in taste. It can also be used unripen, but it tastes best as fruit. As it ripens, its taste also increases slowly. Its flesh is in variant colours such as red, orange and yellow, though they taste almost similar. As it has red colour flesh, it’s also known by the name Chenkal varikka. This fruit resists flies and starts bearing fruits at the age of three years.

6. Olor – This mango type is mostly seen in Kozhikode district and is available since the month of February. Mangoes are very sweet. Oval shaped mangoes they are soft, fiber rich and slight aroma.

7. Neelam – One of the most popular varieties, they are big sized and very tasty. Neelam is commonly available in Kerala, and it grows well in this state’s climatic conditions. It can be preserved for long days without damage, and known for its pleasant aroma, taste and stiffness.

8. Priyor – Big, tasty mangoes with pleasant smell and less fiber commonly available in Thrissur. Tips of mangoes are curved and since they are big in size, only less number of mangoes will be seen in each bunch. Some may weigh up to 250 grams. Often compared with the taste of guava, it’s also called Peraykka Maav locally. Apart from seen locally, it’s also cultivated in certain areas for business. Trees give mangoes early comparing other seasonal mangoes. Its leaves are slightly big.

9. Vellari – As this mango has taste similar to cucumber, it’s known by the name Vellari Maanga. They are less-sour and with big seeds, and excellent for making pickles. Fruits are easily attacked by pests and worms, and hence better to use without waiting too much. They start blossoming and bear fruits at a younger age.  

10. Paandi – Seen in several places of Kerala, the trees shoot up high. Mangoes are small and own a distinct smell. Its stalk is lengthy and up to 15 mangoes can be seen in a single bunch. When it ripens, the fruit turns yellow in colour.

11. Karpoora Maanga – Abundantly seen in middle Kerala, Karpoora Mango is big sized. It smells and tastes like camphor (Karpooram) and that’s why it got the name Karpoora Maanga.

12. Puliyan – Also called pulichi maanga, depending on the sour taste, there are several local varieties available. Some of them are juicy and tasty once ripened, while a few are mostly used as green mango for curries and pickles. Seeds are big; its leaves too. They grow as branches, and its wood is used as firewood, and for doors and windows.  

13. Kappalumaanga – Also known by the name ‘Tholikayyan Maanga’, it’s commonly seen in south Kerala. Big in size and stiff, yet less in fiber, that’s the peculiarity of Kappalumaanga.

14. Kuttiyaattoor – Known by the name of a place of Kannur district, it has one more name, Nambiar Mango (Nambiar Maanga). Once it ripens, its lower part turns yellow. The tree blossoms in the Malayalam month Makaram (January-February) and it widely spreads its branches too.

15. Gomaanga – Its skin colour is dark with a combination of red and black colours. The colour sustains even when the mango ripens. This mango well ripens in the monsoon season, so a bit late comparing other mango varieties. Seeds are big in size, and mangoes are seen as bunches. Mangoes are used as fruit, and also used as green mangoes for curries.

List of 100 Local names of mangoes (100 Naattu Maanga)

Same mango may be known in different names in many regions. Here is the list of 100 such names in which local mangoes (naattu maanga) are known.

  1. Achaar Maanga
  2. Attanaari Maanga
  3. Babbakkai Maanga
  4. Bappiloose Maanga
  5. Chakiri Maanga
  6. Chakkachi
  7. Chakkara Kuttan
  8. Chakkara Maanga
  9. Chakkarakodan
  10. Chakkarakutty
  11. Chakoriyan
  12. Chandana Maanga
  13. Chandrakkaaran
  14. Chelan Maanga
  15. Chena Maanga
  16. Cherukaattu Maanga
  17. Cheruvarikka
  18. Chiri Maanga
  19. Chola Maanga
  20. Choppan
  21. Choriyan Maanga
  22. Elore Maanga
  23. Gomaanga
  24. Jeerake Maanga
  25. Kaasi Maanga
  26. Kadaykkalmaanga
  27. Kadukka Maanga
  28. Kadukkaachi
  29. Kalli Papaaya
  30. Kalluketti
  31. Kanammaavu
  32. Kappai Maanga
  33. Kappamaanga
  34. Kappi Maanga
  35. Karutha Moovandan
  36. Kayappan
  37. Kili Maanga
  38. Kilichundan
  39. Kottamaanga
  40. Kottukonam
  41. Kulam Maanga
  42. Kumadigana
  43. Kumadigana
  44. Kundara
  45. Kunjan Maanga
  46. Kunjan Maanga
  47. Kuriyan Maanga
  48. Kurukkan Maanga
  49. Kuttiyaattoor Maanga
  50. Madhurapuliyan Maanga
  51. Mailaappu
  52. Moovandan
  53. Naaranga Maanga
  54. Naattuneelam
  55. Nambiar Maanga
  56. Nanyaar Maanga
  57. Neduneelan Maanga
  58. Neelam Maanga
  59. Neelavarikka
  60. Neerukudiyan
  61. Nellikka Maanga
  62. Nettukuzhiyan
  63. Ola Maanga
  64. Oombikudiyan Maanga
  65. Oru Maanga
  66. Pachatheeni
  67. Palliyaadan
  68. Panchaara Maanga
  69. Panchaara Varikka
  70. Panchara Katti
  71. Parayan Vellari
  72. Peraykka Maanga
  73. Plaathi Maanga
  74. Priyor
  75. Puli Maanga
  76. Pulichi Maanga
  77. Pulippan
  78. Pulissery Maanga
  79. Puliyan Maanga
  80. Sannajeerake Maanga
  81. Sarkkaraasi
  82. Sharkkara Maanga
  83. Sonai Maanga
  84. Sundari Maanga
  85. Sundarichi
  86. Suvarna Maanga
  87. Thaalimaanga
  88. Thathachundan
  89. Thathakothan
  90. Thenpuliyan Maanga
  91. Thenthulli Maanga
  92. Thitheyyan Maanga
  93. Tholikaippan
  94. Vatta Maanga
  95. Vayanaadan Panchara
  96. Vella Maanga
  97. Vella Moovandan
  98. Vellakkaai Maanga
  99. Vellamkolli Maanga
  100. Vellarimaanga

Also read: A few thoughts on local mangoes of Kerala

Different varieties of banana available in Kerala.

Go through the gallery to read a few more unique articles on agriculture traditions, farming methods and customs of Keralites. Here is the page link. Click on the images to read. 
 
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Sandy

A freelance writer and blogger by profession since October 2011, interested in writing over a wide range of topics. Hope you enjoy my writings. I belong to one of the beautiful places of the world, Kerala, nicknamed as 'God's own country'.

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