Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo showing the Philippine Super Mango (var. 'Carabao')

According to the Gueness Book of World Records, the Philippine Super mango (var. ‘Carabao’) is considered the best mango in the world. The National Seed Industry Council of the Philippines has approved strains of ‘Carabao’ mango variety such as Guimaras Experiment Station (GES # 74, 77, 84 and 85), Talaban, Fresco, Golden and Sweet Elena.

The unique blending taste of sourness and sweetness, makes it uncomparable to other varieties. To measure the sweetness taste of ripe fruit, a gadget known as a refractometer is being used. In the case of the ‘Carabao’ mango variety, the highest reading is about 22 Brix.

The sweetness of mango is highly influenced by nutrient management (high in potassium or calcarious type of soil/ rich in lime) and cultural management practices such as harvesting at the right maturity age (110-115 days after flower induction during dry cropping season, and 120-125 days after flower induction during the wet cropping season).