Katchamita vs. Santa Elena mango...which do you prefer??

Katchamita mangoes

The most common variety of mango in the Philippines is what Americans refer to as Champagne mango, which is also known as Carabao mango. In Filipino term it's Manggang Kalabaw. This is the commonly yellow Philippine mango recognised all over the world, same mango where the exported dried mangoes came from.

Santa Elena mango

This is a new strain of carabao mango listed in the Guiness World Record as the sweetest mango in the world in 1995. It came from Zambales, west of Manila, putting Zambales as the producer of the sweetest mango in the world.

Katchamita or Indian mango

The image above of mangoes came from our neighbor the other day. Asked if we want some, who are we to say NO? Besides, I haven't had any since arriving in the Philippines.

Katchamita trees can be found in everyone's backyard. We have one too but there's not a lot of fruits right now. It's normal to ask from each others' neighbors if one feel like eating it. In some houses, the fruits are just left to ripen till they fall in the ground. Probably similar to some apples being left alone abroad.

The differences...

The Carabao mangoes are better eaten when ripe, it's not so often they're eaten raw. Although I have seen some being sold in Manila, I haven't bought any, as it's very sour, even when prepared as pickles.

The accessibility. Few can be found in some backyards. It takes forever for this tree to bear fruit. And when it does, it needs to be sprayed on with chemicals to ward off pests that will damage its' flowers.

Carabao mango trees needs to be looked after to experience their fruits.

Now..the Katchamita.

This is better eaten RAW...it gives you that crunchy feel. From all the corners of the Philippines, I will speak for my friends in Mindanao, in Manila and in our province, we love it raw! Anytime of the day. 

Eating it means it includes preparing for the sauce to eat it with. It is eaten with a shrimp paste, sauteed with lots of garlic, onions and sliced tomatoes. Oh the smell is heavenly! Foreigners hate it, but mind you, a Milanese friend loves it. Probably the influence of the Filipina wife :)

This tree itself can be found in every garden of every house in the provinces. Like it's not normal if your house doesn't have it. Also, it doesn't take long for it to bear fruits.

This mango gathers the whole family when everything is prepared to eat. Friends getting together will not want to miss it too.

Filipinos love both I guess. When I'm alone, i will choose to have the Carabao ones. Or i'll have it after meals. Restaurants and hotels serve them. If one fancies it, supermarkets and grocery stores have them.

I find that eating alone with the Katchamita isn't fun. It needs a group or even 2 people to really enjoy it. It's the camaraderie that's missing I think.

Another trivia for Carabao Mango: A Florida Keitt variety of carabao mango was listed as the heaviest mango in the world, listed in the Guiness World Record in 2009. This variety came from Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao. It weighed as 3.435 kg or 7.57 lb.

http://www.mixph.com/sweet-elena-mango-the-sweetest-mango-variety/

www.guinessworldrecords.com/world-records/heaviest-mango

http://www.newsflash.org/ 2004//02/si/si001i92.htm

All images are mine and taken with Samsung Galaxy S7. Thanks @elyaque for my badge!