Mango Melee 2022

July 13, 2022

Mango Melee Celebrates 26 years.

Mango Melee Celebrates 26 years at the St. George Village Botanical Garden. This year’s event was bitter-sweet due to the fact that drought conditions lessened the usual mango crop. It’s been two years, due to COVID, since we were able to come together in-person to celebrate and pay tribute to our island’s delicious mangoes.

The usual long table of the different species of mangoes in the region was missing this year, but we had incredible cuisine including some fantastic desserts. My favorite was the moist Ponche Cuba mango cake and the delicious mango cheesecake. We had the usual Vienna cakes and even a Guavaberry cake. I was introduced to the woman who won “Best Beignet” at the Agricultural Fair. I now understand why she won. We called it “more-ish” Once you tasted it you had to go back for more.

It’s always a delight biting into saltfish pates and stuffed plantain balls. I even found Mango BBQ ribs with all the usual trimmings. Some vendors made mango preserves, chutney, and spicy jams.

As we sit and sip on our sorrel lemonade from the two young sisters who have cornered the lemonade market and just added Madras bears to their growing empire, the St. Croix Majorettes come twirling by. The Quelbe sounds of Stanley and the Sleepless Knights fill the air and the colorful Ay Ay Quadrille dancers show young people the dance routine as the caller shouts the formations.

This family-friendly event is one that everyone (almost) on the island comes out to support. We would not have it any other way, we love our Mango Melee.