“Earth Radio” is broadcasting live in Radio 1 within Japan, NHK World Radio Japan (short-wave) in overseas. It introduces an E-mails, fax, and letters from the listeners’ worldwide interactive program. (From Earth Radio HP)
I’d like to report to you regarding the content when I made live appearance on Feb. 24.
Ms. Machiko (My name), can you please tell me what kind of fruit is mango?
- There are many varieties of mangos. Mangos in the Philippines are oval shape, green to yellow color and about 15cm in length, 8cm in width. The height of its tree will reach over 40meters.
The appeal of mangos is exquisite balance of sweetness and sourness creating delicate taste. Especially, mangos in Cebu are known for its great fragrance and its smooth texture, some take mangos to Manila as present.
What do you mean by having mangos as a dish?
- Staple food in the Philippines is rice, and mangos are served as a dish. Surprisingly, many Filipinos do not eat vegetables but meat in their diet, rather keen on fruits. Among the fruits, Mangos are very popular. Astonishingly, this popular fruit is served as a dish.
How is it served as a dish?
- Filipinos are keen to have unripe green mangos as a dish. It is usually served with what is called “Bagoong”. It is salted and fermented tiny shrimps and then eats it together with green mango. This served as a dish. This is my Filipino husband’s favorite, but the smell of bagoong is too awful for me.
How about ripe mango?
- Ripe mangos can also be served as a dish. When you go to Japanese restaurant, delicious sashimi is rolled for hand-rolled sushi, one of the restaurants even served “Mango Maki” in the menu. Usually, imitation crab stick, avocado, mayonnaise and white sesame is served as “California Maki”, but in the Philippines, mango is used instead of avocado. I thought combination of fruits and sushi is disgusting, but once I tasted it, its sourness did not taste strange at all.
What is the price of the mangos in the Philippines?
- In the Philippines, you can eat many delicious mangos with incomparable price in Japan. It depends on the season, but in local market, you can purchase 1kg of mangos at 130yen. Many Japanese are excited to savor this delicious mangos at 130yen, it’s about 3~4 pieces in a kilo. But most Filipinos are only receiving the minimum wage or lower, so 1kilo of mango will equivalent to 1/5 of their income.
It is expensive for regular consumption.
- Yes, but in Cebu, Indian Mangos are sold in the market around May. This is smaller compared to regular mango and it’s sour. When you go to the market, it is sold at 5yen a piece. I personally prefer Indian Mangos compared to regular mangos.
