Mamaram, aam in Hindi and amra in Sanskrit, is the mango, India’s national fruit. India grows more mangoes than any other country, in famous varieties such as Alphonso from Ratnagiri, Banganapalli, Dasheri, Langra, Kesar, Imam Pasand and Malgova. Raw mangoes become avakaya and maavadu pickles, aam panna and aamchur powder. Mango sap and skin can cause an itchy rash around the mouth in sensitive people.
- Botanical name
- Mangifera indica L.
- Family
- Anacardiaceae
- Tamil
- Mamaram
- Hindi
- Aam
- Sanskrit
- Āmra
- Parts used
- Fruit, Sometimes leaf and kernel in lists
- Habit
- Large evergreen fruit tree; raw fruit is pickled, ripe fruit is dessert
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Mamaram
It is a large, long-lived evergreen tree with a dense, dome-shaped crown.
The leaves are long, narrow and leathery, emerging copper-red or purple before turning dark green.
Tiny, pinkish-white flowers grow in large, branched sprays at the branch tips in late winter.
The fruit is a fleshy drupe that varies in shape, size and colour, with a large, flat, fibrous stone.
Cut stems and green fruits ooze a resinous sap.
Traditional use of Mamaram
Kitchen
Raw mango is pickled as avakaya in Andhra Pradesh and maavadu in Tamil Nadu, and cooked into aam panna and chutneys.
Indian food practice
Ritual
Strings of mango leaves, thoranam, hang over doorways at festivals and weddings.
Indian ritual practice
Kitchen
Ripe mango pulp is made into aamras, lassi and mambazha pulissery.
Indian food practice
Modern notes on Mamaram
Mango sap contains compounds related to urushiol, the irritant of poison ivy.
Food safety rules in India ban ripening mangoes with calcium carbide.
Ripe mango is rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene.
Most commercial trees are grafted to keep varieties true.
Mamaram safety
Buy naturally ripened mangoes and wash them before eating. People who react to mango skin or sap should peel the fruit and avoid eating around the stalk end.
Ecology and sourcing
It was domesticated in South Asia, probably in north-east India and Myanmar.
Flies, bees and other insects pollinate the flowers.
Bats and birds feed on ripe fruit.
Related plants
Also in Anacardiaceae
Questions about Mamaram
Is mango India’s national fruit?
Yes.
Why does mango cause a rash?
Its sap contains urushiol-like compounds.
What is calcium carbide ripening?
A banned way of forcing fruit to colour.
What is aamchur?
Dried green mango powder.
Why are mango trees grafted?
To keep the variety true.
Sources
- Mangifera indica L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q3919027 (Mangifera indica)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.