Pakistani mango season: when each variety is ripe, and buying them in the UK
The season at a glance
Pakistani mango season runs from late May to mid-October. It opens in Sindh with Sindhri, peaks in Punjab with Anwar Ratol and the Chaunsa varieties, and closes with White Chaunsa and Fajri in the autumn. In the UK, fresh Pakistani mangoes are usually in shops from June through the summer.
Each variety has its own short window, which is why people who grew up with Pakistani mangoes talk about the season as a succession of names rather than a single fruit.
Month by month
| Month | What to expect |
|---|---|
| May | The season opens in Sindh with the first Sindhri, late in the month. |
| June | Sindhri at its peak, with Anwar Ratol, Dusehri and Langra from Punjab. |
| July | Early varieties finish; Sammar Bahisht Chaunsa arrives in mid-July. |
| August | Chaunsa season. White Chaunsa, Kala Chaunsa and Fajri begin mid-month. |
| September | Late season: White Chaunsa, Kala Chaunsa, Fajri and Azeem Chaunsa. |
| October | The last White Chaunsa and Azeem Chaunsa; the season closes by mid-October. |
These are typical windows, drawn from the published reference ranges in our guide to Pakistani mango varieties. The weather moves them by a week or two from year to year.
Sindh first, then Punjab
Sindh’s hotter climate brings its mangoes on first. Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad and Tando Allahyar are known for Sindhri, the big, generous mango that opens the season.
Punjab follows. Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Muzaffargarh are the heart of the Chaunsa country, with Anwar Ratol early in the summer and White Chaunsa at the very end. Multan is often called Pakistan’s mango capital, and it is where our partner grove, Masha Allah Bagh, has grown mangoes since 1898.
Buying Pakistani mangoes in the UK
Fresh Pakistani mangoes travel to the UK by air, a few days after picking. Before export, they are treated in hot water to meet plant-health rules, which protects against fruit fly without chemicals.[1]
- Where to look: South Asian grocers, some supermarkets and specialist online sellers, usually by the box.
- Check the variety: a good box names the variety. Early in the summer that will be Sindhri or Anwar Ratol; later, Chaunsa.
- Ripen at room temperature: keep mangoes out of the fridge until they smell sweet at the stem and give slightly when pressed.
- Eat them promptly: once ripe, a Pakistani mango is at its best within a day or two.
Outside the season
For ten months of the year, the only way to taste these mangoes is dried. Golden Multan makes single-variety dried mango from Sindhri, Anwar Ratol and White Chaunsa, each named on its own pouch, so you can follow the season all year. Read more about how dried mango is made and how to choose it.
In season, our Seasonal Mango Box brings whole fresh mangoes of whichever variety is at its best, where we can deliver them.
Questions about the season
When are Pakistani mangoes in season?
Roughly from late May to mid-October. The season opens in Sindh with Sindhri, moves to Punjab with Anwar Ratol, Dusehri, Langra and the Chaunsa varieties, and ends with White Chaunsa and Fajri in September and October.
When do Pakistani mangoes arrive in the UK?
Fresh Pakistani mangoes usually reach UK shops from June, with supply continuing through the summer. Exact timing depends on the year’s harvest and on air freight, so the first boxes can arrive a little earlier or later.
Which Pakistani mango comes first?
Sindhri, from Sindh, is one of the first mangoes of the Pakistani summer, with the earliest fruit late in May.
Which Pakistani mango comes last?
White Chaunsa (Sufaid Chaunsa), Fajri and Azeem Chaunsa are among the last, with published picking windows running into mid-October.
Is Chaunsa or Sindhri better?
They are different rather than better or worse. Sindhri is large, early and generous; Chaunsa varieties come later and are prized for their aromatic sweetness. Many people in Pakistan follow the season, eating each as it comes.
Why are Pakistani mangoes only available for a few months?
Each variety has its own short picking window, and fresh mangoes last days, not weeks, once ripe. Drying is the traditional answer: dried mango keeps the flavour of the season for months.
How do I ripen Pakistani mangoes at home?
Keep them at room temperature, out of the fridge, until they smell sweet at the stem and give slightly when pressed. A paper bag speeds things up. Once ripe, eat them within a day or two or keep them in the fridge for a few days more.
Sources
- 1. Arab News Pakistan: Pakistan bolsters hot water treatment to disinfect mangoes against pests, boost exports. Hot water treatment as a requirement for high-value export markets.arabnews.pk
- 2. Harvest windows: see the sources in our guide to Pakistani mango varieties, including the Mango Research Institute, Punjab.