If you think that the mango ranks at the very top of the list of the world’s most revered fruits then the available evidence suggests that you have a pretty strong case for so believing. And if you think that July is the month in which the mango enjoys its highest global profile then, unquestionably, you have a water tight case.
Just over a week ago the Caribbean island of Nevis wound up its July 4 -7 Mango and Food Festival, the fifth such annual event and once which the pundits say is quickly becoming a serious contender for one of the spots among regional food festivals.
Nevis may not, customarily, be one of the more talked-about Caribbean islands but its reported 44 varieties of mango are highly prized for their texture and flavour. During the season of the Festival, particularly, they reportedly trigger an enhanced level of culinary creativity among celebrity and local chefs who take their particular picks from amongst the flavors to turn out everything from soups and salsas, to marinades, sauces, cocktails and fabulous desserts. As is the case across the region, however, locals are quite content to eat the mangoes fresh off the trees – ’fresh pick’ as we say in Guyana.
