THERE are mangoes and there are mangoes. Then there are Haden mangoes. Rich, juicy, piney, lushious, sap-dripping, brilliant orange Haden mangoes. Not totally alone in quality, there are also ‘Ah Ping’, ‘Fairchild’, ‘Gouveia’, ‘Harders’, ‘Keitt’, ‘Momi K’, ‘Pope’, and ‘Rapoza’ varieties that are almost equal, of the over 60 varieties that grow in Hawaii. The key word here is “almost.” But give me a Mangifera indica Haden mango anytime.


I’ve noted over the years that Hawaii’s mangoes, including Hadens seem to ripen during the hottest, most humid time of the year, around September. But this year’s totally different. It’s a cool, rainy April here on Oahu, and the mangoes, including Hadens, are suddenly appearing in supermarkets and across the island. Climate change? I’ve no idea, but that doesn’t diminish the pleasure I get in eating these close relatives of cashews and pistachios (!), all edible cousins to the poison ivy plant. Eh? Yep! I will never forget one of the most puzzling medical cases when I first came to Hawaii: Blistered lips and fingers, part of a not-uncommon-in-Hawaii though extreme case of Mango Itch.


If I were stranded or simply living on a tropical South Pacific island as I, actor Daniel S. Janik am, I must agree with Rogers and Hammerstein who, in similar circumstances would surely say, “There is nothin’ like a…Haden!” Ha, ha!


For Haden news, information and trivia, check out https://tropicalplantae.com/product/mango-haden/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw8diwBhAbEiwA7i_sJREJKr_dH3msK6Mi_7Qt6_imOerlYIMn9hGY2b7ZyM16_ThQcAcZdxoChwkQAvD_BwE.




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