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Extremely popular in the Philippines, the Carabao Mango, also known as the Philippine Mango, is renowned for its exceptional sweetness and delightful flavor.
In fact, one of the sub-varieties of Carabao achieved a Guinness World Record in 1995 for being the sweetest mango in the world đ
While there are newer varieties that are just as sweet, if not sweeter (e.g., Cotton Candy, Honey Kiss, etc.), Carabao still remains a favorite among those who prefer remarkably sweet Indochinese mangos.
With that being said, this grow guide will cover everything that you need to know about Carabao Mango:
Table of Contents
- Carabao Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
- Carabao Mango Flavor Profile
- Carabao Mango Season (And When To Pick)
- Carabao Mango Disease Resistance
- Carabao Mango History
- Carabao Mango Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
- Conclusion
Carabao Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
The Carabao Mango is considered a large-sized mango tree.
Carabao Mango Trees have a vigorous & upright growth habit. As a result, Carabao can realistically be kept between 20 â 25 feet tall, even with annual pruning. That being said, Carabao would not do well long-term in containers and would not be considered a âcondoâ mango.
Carabaoâs fruit production consistently ranges from good to heavy. However, the trees are not particularly precocious and can take upwards of several years before they will have consistent and reliable production.
Like other Indochinese mango varieties, Carabao typically produces fruit clusters on a single branch. To encourage larger individual fruits and reduce the risk of fruit abrasions caused by friction among them, one can thin the fruit on the individual branches early in the season.
Despite being small-sized fruits that typically weigh between 0.5 and 0.75 lbs, these mangos have a favorable flesh-to-seed ratio.
Carabao Mango Flavor Profile
Carabao Mangos are considered an Indochinese Flavored Mango.
When you slice into a Carabao Mango, youâll be greeted by a mild, spicy aroma. The fruit itself is a beautiful yellow, completely fiberless, and instantly melts in your mouth with its buttery texture. Depending on its freshness, it can be very juicy and dripping with mango goodness đ
Carabao has a sweet and rich flavor with a hint of tartness and subtle citrus/pineapple undertones. The tartness is more pronounced when the fruit is underripe. While everyoneâs taste buds are different, I would describe the overall taste as a classic mango flavor with honey-lemon tones.
Side note: If you are like my wife and love tart mangos: Sweet Tart is where itâs at đ
Finally, itâs worth noting that Carabao Mangos produce polyembryonic seeds, which means that planting a seed from a Carabao Mango can yield another Carabao Mango Tree. However, with polyembryonic mango seeds, not selecting the correct sprout (the genetic clone) can result in a different tree that may be either better or worse.
Due to Carabaoâs popularity, many people have planted Carabao seeds, resulting in the recognition of 14+ different sub-varieties of Carabao Mango Trees that produce both smaller and larger fruit than the original.
That being said, if you are planting a Carabao Mango from seed, here are some quick tips for making sure you select the correct seedling (identical clone of the mother tree):
- Wait until 2-3 leaf flushes occur; does one seedlingâs leaves look more similar to the mother tree?
- Generally speaking, the stronger sprout is the clone while the weaker seedling is the fertilized seed (non-identical)
Carabao Mango Season (And When To Pick)
Carabao Mangos are considered an early-season mango (May â June).
With that being said, the best time to pick Carabao Mangos are when they are mature and beginning to ripen on the tree. From a color perspective, this is when the fruit is beginning to show signs of yellow color break. Carabao is perfectly ripe when the majority of the fruit transitions to a deep yellow color. If you were to harvest the mango when its skin is greenish-yellow, itâs important to let the fruit finish ripening on the kitchen counter.
With that being said, here are some additional tips to knowing when a Carabao Mango is ready to pick:
- Donât just go off sight; is the fruit beginning to soften?
- How does the stem look? Is it drying up where it connects to the fruit?
- Are there beads of sap present on the fruit?
- Is the fruit beginning to transition to a greenish- yellow? (even if itâs subtle)
- Is the fruit starting to develop an aroma?
Finally, Carabao Mangos have very thin skin, so itâs crucial to harvest them at the right stage to prevent bruising and fruit drop.
Carabao Mango Disease Resistance
Carabao Mangos are highly resistant to many common mango diseases, including Anthracnose and Bacterial Black Spot. As a result, Carabao would be an excellent addition to yards with less than ideal conditions, such as higher humidity levels and low winds.
Carabao Mango History
The Carabao Mango has its origins in the Philippines, where it plays a significant role in the countryâs exports. In fact, the mango holds the distinction of being the official national fruit of the Philippines.
Furthermore, the name âCarabaoâ derives from the water buffalo of the same name, a native species to the Philippines. Interestingly, the Carabao is also the countryâs official national animal. To be honest, I canât help but imagine a Carabao Buffalo enjoying a Carabao Mango đ
As mentioned earlier, there are various sub-varieties of Carabao Mangos. However, if youâre seeking the sweetest of the sweet, look no further than the Sweet Elena cultivar.
Finally, one of the most famous mango seedlings derived from the Carabao variety is the Ataulfo Mango.
Carabao Mango Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
If youâre contemplating buying a Carabao Mango Tree, itâs important to consider the pros and cons of this variety:
Carabao Mango Pros
- Excellent disease resistance
- Fruit is very sweet
- Seed is polyembryonic (opportunity to save money by propagating via seed from someone who has a Carabao)
Carabao Mango Cons
- Fruit is not particularly large
- Tree is large and vigorous
- Reliable fruit production takes some time
If you determine that the Carabao Mango suits your preferences, I strongly recommend buying a grafted tree to ensure dependable and consistent fruit production as soon as possible.
Tropical Tree Guide has proudly partnered with Montura Gardens, a family-owned nursery in Clewiston, Florida, to bring you premium, grafted tropical fruit treesâdelivered FREE to your doorstep! With Montura Gardensâ exceptional quality and service, weâre making it easier than ever to grow flourishing tropical trees right in your backyard.
For more information, please check out our Tropical Fruit Trees For Sale Page.
Conclusion
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If you have any questions regarding anything mentioned in this grow guide, please comment them below! This way, others can also benefit from the answer to the same question. For any other questions or growing tips that you think may be helpful, feel free to use the contact form and drop me a line.
Thank you for reading! đ
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Philippine/Manila (Carabao) Mangoes are a deep yellow orange color when ripe and NOT slight greenish yellow, you know.
https://www.tagaloglang.com/mangoes-of-the-philippines/
Hey Pedro!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
For clarification, I mentioned in the ‘Fruit and Taste’ Section that “Once the mango ripens into a deep yellow color, it is ready to eat!”
Whereas in the “Mango Season” section I talk about harvesting Philippine when the “mangoâs skin begins to transition from a deep-green to a slight greenish-yellow.” That is because at that point the fruit is mature and can be harvested at that stage (mature, but not fully ripened). However, the fruit will eventually transition to their characteristic deep yellow orange color as the fruit continues to ripen.
I hope that clears things up!
– Matthew