How Chaunsa Mango (Aam) Got Its Name: Pakistan’s Famous Mangoes
Chaunsa shares its name with Chausa, a small town in Bihar where Sher Shah Suri beat the Mughal emperor Humayun in 1539. The popular story says Sher Shah named his favourite mango (aam) after the victory. It’s a lovely tale, but it’s a legend, not recorded history. The same goes for most mango names: some come from real places, some from people, and a few from stories nobody can prove. Here’s what’s checkable about Chaunsa, Sindhri, Langra, Anwar Ratol and friends, plus when each is in season and how to pick them.
Quick facts
- Chaunsa: named after Chausa in Bihar; the Sher Shah link is legend.
- Sindhri: named after Sindhri, a town in Mirpur Khas district, Sindh.
- Langra: a Banaras (Varanasi) mango; the “lame fakir” story is legend.
- Anwar Ratol: named after the village of Ratol near Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.
- Dussehri: named after Dasheri village near Malihabad, Lucknow.
- National fruit: mango is the national fruit of both Pakistan and India.
Prefer to listen? This post as a 5 min video · Video page with transcript
How Chaunsa got its name (and what’s legend)
The fact: Chausa is a real town in today’s Buxar district of Bihar, on the Ganges. In 1539 Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun there, one of the battles that pushed Humayun into years of exile.
The legend: Sher Shah loved a particular mango so much that he named it after his win. You’ll read this on fruit boxes and in newspapers every summer. No reliable record from the time confirms it, so treat it as a good story. What’s clear is that the name points to that corner of north India.
In Pakistan, Chaunsa became the king of the late season. It’s grown mostly in southern Punjab, around Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur, and in parts of Sindh. You’ll hear several types: White Chaunsa, Black (Kala) Chaunsa and Sammar Bahisht Chaunsa (“fruit of paradise”). Exactly when and how each was selected isn’t well documented, so be wary of anyone who gives you a precise year.
A good Chaunsa is so juicy people roll it soft, bite off the tip and suck the pulp straight out.
Sindhri, Langra, Anwar Ratol and Dussehri: where the names come from
Sindhri
Sindhri is named after the town of Sindhri in Mirpur Khas district, the heart of Sindh’s mango belt. It’s big, long, yellow-skinned and one of the first quality mangoes of the Pakistani season. A widely repeated account says the parent plants came from south India in the early twentieth century; that story is plausible but hard to pin down. Mirpur Khas holds a mango festival most summers, where growers show off dozens of named varieties.
Langra
Langra is the classic mango of Banaras (Varanasi). The famous story says a lame (langra) holy man grew the first tree there, and people named the fruit after him. It’s charming and nobody can prove it, so call it folklore. Langra stays green even when ripe, which is why buyers who judge by colour often pass it by.
Anwar Ratol
Ratol is a village near Baghpat in western Uttar Pradesh. The “Anwar” part is usually said to honour a local grower, and families on both sides of the border still argue about who bred it first. Everyone agrees on the fruit: small, fibre-free, intensely sweet and fragrant, with a short season. Pakistan grows it widely in Punjab.
Dussehri
Dussehri takes its name from Dasheri village near Malihabad, outside Lucknow. Villagers point to an old tree they call the mother tree. Its exact age is local tradition rather than a measured fact.
Alphonso
India’s famous export mango is generally said to be named after Afonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese commander who took Goa in 1510.
Why every named mango is a copy of one tree
Here’s the surprising botany. If you plant a Chaunsa seed, you won’t reliably get a Chaunsa. Most South Asian mango varieties are monoembryonic, meaning each seed carries one new mix of genes from two parents, like a child who looks a bit like both. So the fruit from a seedling tree is a lottery.
To keep a good mango, growers graft. They take a twig from the prized tree and join it onto a young rootstock. The twig grows into branches that are genetically the same as the original. So every Chaunsa you’ve ever eaten came, in a sense, from one original tree, copied again and again.
- Mango belongs to the same plant family as cashew and pistachio.
- The Mughal emperor Akbar is said to have planted a garden of 100,000 mango trees, the Lakhi Bagh, near Darbhanga in Bihar. The size may be a round boast, but the garden’s fame is old.
- Pakistan sends boxes of mangoes to world leaders each summer. The practice is so well known it’s nicknamed mango diplomacy.
Mango season calendar for Pakistan and India
Dates move with the weather each year and by region, so treat these as rough windows.
| Variety | Where | Main season | How it eats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphonso | Maharashtra, Gujarat coast | April to May | Rich, saffron flesh |
| Sindhri | Sindh | Late May to July | Big, sweet, mild fibre |
| Dussehri | UP, Pakistani Punjab | June to July | Slim, sweet, fibre-free |
| Langra | UP, Bihar, Punjab | June to July | Green skin, tangy-sweet |
| Anwar Ratol | Punjab, UP | June to early July | Small, very sweet, fragrant |
| Chaunsa | South Punjab, Sindh, UP | July to September | Very juicy, sweet |
How to pick a sweet mango of any name
- Smell the stem end: a ripe mango smells sweet and fruity there. No smell usually means unripe; a sour or alcohol smell means over-ripe or badly ripened.
- Press gently: it should give a little, like a ripe peach. Rock hard needs 2 to 4 days in newspaper at room temperature.
- Don’t judge by colour alone: Langra stays green when ripe. Some Chaunsa ripen yellow with a green shoulder.
- Look for even ripening: a skin that’s bright yellow outside but hard inside, or yellow in patches with green blotches, can mean it was ripened with calcium carbide. Only a lab can confirm that. Buy another batch.
- Weigh: heavy for its size means juicy.
- Buy a test kilo before you buy a peti (crate).
Rinse mangoes under running water and let them soak in plain water for 30 minutes before eating. The old habit helps rinse off sap and dust from the skin and chills them a little. It doesn’t change the fruit’s “heat”.
Desi homes have firm mango rules: soak before eating, don’t eat too many “or you’ll get garmi and boils”, and follow with lassi. The soaking is sensible hygiene. The pimple link is mostly tradition, though a lot of sugary mango in a hot season doesn’t help anyone’s skin. Raw mango goes into aam panna and amchur: see our aam panna recipe and homemade amchur.
A simple Chaunsa treat for the season
Mango lassi (2 glasses): blend the pulp of 1 medium ripe Chaunsa, 300 g plain yoghurt, 100 ml cold water and a pinch of cardamom. Chaunsa is sweet enough that most people need no sugar. Serve it chilled.
Mango sap near the stem can cause an itchy rash around the lips and mouth, especially in people who react to cashew shells. Wash the fruit well and cut it rather than biting through the skin if you’re sensitive. People with diabetes can still enjoy mango as a measured portion, about one small mango or a cup of cubes, with a meal, rather than a bowl after dinner; our mango portion guide has details. Anyone with a mango allergy (swollen lips, hives, breathing trouble) needs urgent medical help, not home remedies. Never taste a mango that smells chemical or fermented.
Mango names and history: your questions
Why is Chaunsa mango called Chaunsa?
It’s named after Chausa, a town in Bihar. The story that Sher Shah Suri named it after beating Humayun there in 1539 is a popular legend without solid proof.
Is Chaunsa from Pakistan or India?
The name points to Bihar in India, but Pakistan’s southern Punjab and Sindh grow it on a big scale today. It’s loved on both sides of the border.
What is the difference between White and Black Chaunsa?
They’re different selections sold under the Chaunsa name, and they differ a little in skin colour, shape and timing. Sellers don’t always use the labels the same way, so buy by smell and feel. All are late, sweet and very juicy.
Which is the sweetest mango in Pakistan?
People argue about it every summer. Anwar Ratol and Chaunsa usually top the lists, with Sindhri loved for its size.
Why does Langra mango stay green?
That variety simply keeps a green skin when ripe. Judge it by smell and a gentle press instead.
When does Chaunsa season start?
Usually July, running into August and sometimes early September. It’s one of the last main mangoes of the season.
Can I grow Chaunsa from a seed?
You’ll grow a mango tree, but its fruit probably won’t be Chaunsa. To get true Chaunsa, buy a grafted plant from a nursery.
Which mango is the national fruit of Pakistan?
The mango as a whole is Pakistan’s national fruit, not one particular variety. India’s national fruit is also the mango.
Is it true Akbar planted 100,000 mango trees?
Tradition says so, at the Lakhi Bagh near Darbhanga. The garden’s fame is real; the exact count may be a round figure.
Can people with diabetes eat Chaunsa?
In a planned portion, usually yes. Eat a small one with a meal, skip mango shakes with added sugar, and check your sugar as your doctor advises.
More stories and picking guides in our Fruits and Vegetables section, including how kinnow came to Pakistan.