Pakistani ‘chaunsa’ a hit with mango lovers

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 17

‘Chaunsa’, a variety of mango from Multan, Pakistan, has become the favourite pick of fruit lovers in Jammu these days.

Slightly bigger in size than the other Indian varieties such as ‘sinduri’, ‘safeda’, ‘malta’, ‘dasheri’, ‘alphonso’, ‘totapuri’ and ‘langra’, Multan’s ‘chaunsa’ has taken over the city fruit markets and is being relishedby mango lovers.

“It tastes different than ‘chaunsa’ of Bihar. It has a rich aroma, sweet taste, juicy pulp and high nutritional value. The Pakistani mango comes in the city markets in July-end and remains available till mid-August. It is the most sought-after fruit,” said Girdhari Lal, a fruit dealer at the Parade vegetable market.

‘Chaunsa’ is imported from Rahim Yar Khan and Multan in Punjab, Pakistan. Also known as ‘sumer bahist’, this variety of mango was originally made popular by Sher Shah Suri throughout the subcontinent. While commemorating his victory over Humayun at Chausa, he named his favourite mango as ‘chaunsa’.

The Pakistani ‘chaunsa’ is currently being sold at Rs 100 per kg in the city markets.

Rajesh Gupta, Narwal Fruit Mandi president, said the Pakistani ‘chaunsa’ was the last variety of mango that comes to the state before the season ends. “We receive 8 to 10 trucks of ‘chaunsa’ from Chakan da Bagh in Poonch and Salamabad, Uri cross point. The demand is usually quite high,” Rajesh Gupta said, adding that the wholesale price of this variety of mango varies from Rs 60 to Rs 75 and it was being sold at Rs 100 per kg in retail markets.

Sher Shah Suri connect

‘Chaunsa’ is imported from Rahim Yar Khan and Multan in Punjab, Pakistan. Also known as ‘sumer bahist’, this variety of mango was originally made popular

by Sher Shah Suri throughout the subcontinent. While commemorating his victory over Humayun at Chausa, he named his favourite mango as ‘chaunsa’.