Summers are the best when growing up on St Croix. Why? It’s Mango Season! This year the mangoes are especially juicy and sweet even though we are in drought mode at the moment. The anticipation as you watch trees laden with mangoes begin to ripen and you hope you can beat the birds who take pleasure in getting to the then first. There was just enough rainfall every day to plump our delicious mangoes.
A variety of mangoes are readily available on the island and one of my favorite traditions is how neighbors share when their trees are overabundant. As more people are trying the Haitian mango, the favorite Julie mango is getting some stiff competition. Most recently, I came across a Champagne mango; what a treat! Some people prefer a more thready mango that gets between your teeth like the kidney mango, while others look for grafted mango without threads. Whatever your choice, there is nothing like biting into a fragrant juicy mango on a hot summer day.