Mango is one of the most popular — and delicious — fruits out there. Keep reading to learn some interesting facts about mango, from its origins to an interesting cameo in the life of Buddha.
What Does Mango Mean?
The word “mango” made its way to English through Portuguese, which in turn adopted it from Malay manggo and Tamil mankay. This term combines man (“mango tree”) and kay (“fruit”). So in its original sense, the word simply meant “fruit from the mango tree.”
As a side note, you may remember from one of our previous posts that some believe that the Portuguese also helped create tempura. Which goes to show that the world owes them more than the average person imagines.
Buddha and the Mango Grove
Mango is an important part of Indian culture, so much so that a famous episode of the life of Buddha happened at a mango grove. The episode is related in a Buddhist scripture known as the Ambapālisutta. According to the text, the Buddha taught mendicants the four ways of mindfulness meditation while resting at a mango grove.
A Robust Nutrient Profile
Mango is one of the most delicious ways to stock up on nutrients. For example, one cup (165g) of mango provides:
- Vitamin A (25% of DV)
- Vitamin B6 (11%)
- Vitamin C (76%)
- Vitamin E (9%)
- Vitamin K (9%)
- Calcium (2%)
- Magnesium (4%)
- Copper (9%)
- Phosphorus (2%)
- Dietary fiber (12%)
The best part is that mangos provide all these nutrients but contain no cholesterol and just 0.4g of fat.
Bonus: Since you are interested in mangos, we thought you’d enjoy this catchy tune where George Clooney’s aunt sings her love for mangos (and papayas).
More Interesting Food Facts
At Chef Gourmet, we know good food, and we love sharing that knowledge with you. If we have whetted your appetite for interesting food facts, here are some previous posts you may find interesting:
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