By Aditi Saraswat
April 29, 2026
Come the summer season, and Alphonso manages to steal all the spotlight, but many cheap Indian mangoes often deliver excellent flavour, fragrance and texture as well. This summer, learn about other regional favourites that are much easier on the wallet and full of personality.
Loved for its saffron-coloured flesh and rich fragrance, kesar from Gujarat tastes sweet, smooth and less fibrous than any other common variety of mangoes.
A North Indian favourite, dasheri has juicy flesh, floral sweetness and a thin shape. It is perfect to slice and eat, and tastes best when chilled.
Renowned around Varanasi, Langra is green on the outside even when ripe from within. It has tangy-sweet flesh with deep classic mango flavour.
Big in size, bright yellow and easy to cut, Banganapalli tastes a bit sweet, having firm, fibreless flesh, and is liked for its neat slices.
It is highly prized in parts of eastern India, Himsagar is extremely sweet, aromatic and fibreless, having rich pulp with a smaller seed.
Got its name from its beak-like tip, Totapuri has a sweet-tangy taste profile. It is great to make juices out of it, use in salad, shakes and also good to use in pickles.