by 
Zill Indochinese (or Zinc for short) is not only a delicious mango in its own right, but has also produced some of the newest & best-tasting mango cultivars including: Dot, Venus, Sweet Tart, Kathy, and P-22.
If you enjoy mangos in the Indochinese flavor group (with some dazzle) then you’ll love Zill Indochinese.
With that being said, this grow guide will cover everything that you need to know about Zill Indochinese Mango:
Table of Contents
- Zill Indochinese Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
- Zill Indochinese Mango Flavor Profile
- Zill Indochinese Mango Season (And When To Pick)
- Zill Indochinese Mango Disease Resistance
- Zill Indochinese Mango History
- Zill Indochinese Mango Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
- Conclusion
Zill Indochinese Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
The Zill Indochinese Mango is considered a small to medium-sized mango tree.
Zill Indochinese Mangos have a moderately vigorous & spreading growth habit that produces an open canopy. As a result, Zill Indochinese can realistically be kept between 8 – 15 feet tall with annual pruning. While the tree is easily manageable, the cultivar’s lack of natural compactness means they would not do well long-term in containers and would not be considered a “condo” mango.
Zill Indochinese Mango’s fruit production consistently ranges from good to heavy. The mangos themselves are small to medium-sized fruits that typically weigh between 0.5 – 1.5 lbs. The wide variation in fruit size is correlated to the quantity of fruit on each individual flower panicle (More Fruit = Smaller Size, Less Fruit = Bigger Size).
Additionally, while Zill Indochinese is known to produce an early and late crop, I have found that the earlier crops tend to have more problems with uneven ripening and also just don’t come close to the second crop’s distinctively superior flavor.
Speaking of flavor… 😃
Zill Indochinese Mango Flavor Profile
As the name implies, Zill Indochinese Mangos are considered an Indochinese Flavored Mango.
Slicing into the fruit will reveal a yellowish-orange fiberless flesh that is juicy & tender with a silky smooth texture. At this point, the fruit gives off a wonderful floral aroma that is commonly found in other Indochinese varieties.
From a flavor perspective, Zill Indochinese Mango has a sweet floral flavor. While the honey sweetness is the dominant flavor, it is quickly followed by a well-balanced “chalky” or “syrupy” component as well.
Afterwards, there is a distinct and enjoyable aftertaste of cantaloupe & honey dew, which is reminiscent of what I’d expect from Dupuis Saigon. While there is little to no resin (spiciness) present, the sweetness + chalkiness combo does seem to translate to a slightly complex flavor.
Relative to other mango cultivars that I have sampled, Zill Indochinese has the floral sweetness of Nam Doc Mai, honey dew notes of Maha Chanok and “syrupy” flavor of Cac.
With that being said, what I find particularly fascinating is the complete lack of tartness that is so prominent in seedlings of Zill Indochinese (i.e. Sweet Tart). It honestly makes you wonder what pollinating mango cultivar is responsible for bringing out the tartness flavor that is very much lacking in Zill Indochinese Mango.
Overall, Zill Indochinese’s flavor will be mostly appreciated by those who are looking for a mango with a floral sweetness but with a ‘zing’ of chalkiness as well.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Zill Indochinese Mangos produce monoembryonic seeds, which means that planting a seed from a Zill Indochinese Mango won’t yield another Zill Indochinese Mango Tree.
Zill Indochinese Mango Season (And When To Pick)
Zill Indochinese Mangos are considered a mid-to-late season mango (June – Aug).
So if you are looking for a mango cultivar with an extended season that can be enjoyed over the span of a few months vs having to eat all the fruit at once (and getting Mango Belly in the process 🙂), then Zill Indochinese Mango is an excellent choice.
With that being said, the best time to pick Zill Indochinese 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. Zill Indochinese is perfectly ripe when the majority of the fruit transitions to a greenish-yellow color.
Depending on the fruit’s sun exposure, there can also be a slight pink blush towards the top of the fruit. However, it’s important to remember that a mango’s blush has nothing to do with the fruit’s ripeness. A rule of thumb to remember is that More Sun = More Blush, Less Sun = Less Blush.
Similar to Dot, it is very important to NOT allow Zill Indochinese Mango to ripen on the tree. That is because Zill Indochinese is known to have issues with uneven ripening.
More specifically, the bottom of the fruit tends to go overripe (to the point of rot) while the top of the fruit will remain green. Furthermore, when picked underripe, Zill Indochinese will become wrinkly and also develop a prominent chalky & sour flavor. While some may enjoy this flavor profile, it is a far cry from this mango cultivar’s full flavor potential.
Aside from color, here are some additional tips to knowing when Zill Indochinese Mango is ready to pick:
- Have the lenticels (dots) become more prominent on the top of the fruit?
- Has the skin texture become more smooth?
- How does the stem look? It’s it drying up near where it connects to the fruit?
- Is the fruit’s skin beginning to stretch?
- Are there beads of sap present?
Finally, Zill Indochinese Mango tends to have issues with fruit-split in the event of heavy rains. As a result, there are two things that we can do to prevent this:
- Provide consistent irrigation so that the tree is well hydrated and that the fruit’s skin can keep it’s flexibility
- Harvest and allow the fruit to finish ripening on the counter (assuming the fruit are mostly mature)
Zill Indochinese Mango Disease Resistance
Zill Indochinese Mango is moderately resistant to both Anthracnose & Bacterial Black Spot.
As a result, Zill Indochinese would be an excellent addition to yards with less than ideal conditions, such as higher humidity levels and low winds.
Zill Indochinese Mango History
Below is an excerpt on the history of Zill Indochinese Mango from Walter Zill’s Autobiography:
Many kitchen scraps were discarded in the area beside Dad’s Ackee Tree where a mango seed happened to grow into a most significant mature tree. Possibly one of the seeds of Cambodiana, pollinated by Who knows what, resulted in the variety that Verna and I have agreed is of eating quality that we “Can’t do without” when we discuss which varieties to replace with new ones. Both Cambodiana and ZINC remain green until ripe.
…
Their shape is similar, with ZINC growing larger, yet many ZINC fruit remain small. If left on the tree to ripen ZINC will ripen unevenly, its seed sprouting and the pulp rotting at the base, while near the stem it is hard, unripe. Both Cambodiana & ZINC have too large a seed, but their ripening season is far different. ZINC has a firm, sliceable texture even when ripe to eat. I recall Cambodiana being softer, equally free of fiber, and mild to my taste.
…
I have noticed over the passing of seasons that the early ripening varieties generally do not have as strong, or concentrated, flavor as those that hang on the tree longer during the summer. ZINC has too strong a flavor for some people, but to others, who recognize when to pick it from the tree and ripen it in warm surroundings, it has no equal in both flavor and texture as a dessert that can be sliced and/or diced.
Walter Zill, Maturing With Mangoes
Zill Indochinese Mango is a parent to Venus, Sweet Tart, Kathy, and P-22.
Zill Indochinese Mango Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
Tropical Tree Guide has proudly partnered with Montura Gardens, a family-owned nursery in Clewiston, Florida, to bring you premium, grafted tropical fruit trees—delivered FREE to your doorstep! With Montura Gardens’ exceptional quality and service, we’re 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
If you found this grow guide helpful, please consider sharing. It helps support the website 🙂
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! 🙂
_
