mango
Pakistani Mango Varieties Guide
Complete reference to the six commercial Pakistani mango varieties — Sindhri, Chaunsa, Anwar Ratol, 12 Number Ratol, Langra, and White Chaunsa Nawab Puri. Origin, season, flavour, markets.
Pakistan grows over 250 documented mango varieties, but only six are commercially exported at scale. This guide is the variety-by-variety reference we send buyers asking “what else, besides Sindhri and Chaunsa, should I be considering?”.
It is also useful as a desk reference for retail merchandising teams who need to brief their produce staff or sales floor on the differences between cartons in a Pakistani-mango display.
The six commercial Pakistani mango export varieties
| Variety | Origin | Season | Weight | Brix | Skin | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sindhri | Mirpur Khas (Sindh) | Late May – mid-July | 350–550 g | 18–22 | Golden yellow | Volume retail anchor |
| Chaunsa | Multan (Punjab) | Late June – mid-August | 300–500 g | 22–24 | Yellow-green, red blush | Premium / diaspora |
| Anwar Ratol | Punjab | Late May – late June | 120–200 g | 20–23 | Yellow-green | Gift / connoisseur |
| 12 Number Ratol | Punjab | Late June – early August | 200–280 g | 20–23 | Yellow-green | Larger Anwar |
| Langra | Multan | Early June – early July | 250–350 g | 17–20 | Green at ripeness | Gulf early-season |
| White Chaunsa Nawab Puri | Multan | Mid-Aug – early Sept | 350–500 g | 24+ | Pale yellow-white | Late-season gift |
Sindhri — the world’s sweetest
Origin: Mirpur Khas in Sindh province, where the Indus delta soil and dry desert air combine to produce a large, virtually fiberless mango with honey-sweet flavour and a smooth texture. Sindhri was the first Pakistani mango to enter international retail and remains the most-recognised Pakistani variety in Gulf supermarkets.
Flavour: Mild, honey-sweet aroma; flesh is deep yellow, virtually fiberless; melts on the palate. Brix typically 18–22.
Best markets: UAE, KSA, UK. The volume-retail anchor for any Pakistani mango program.
Why import it: Easy to merchandise, broad consumer recognition, wide window, forgiving of imperfect ripening protocols. The default first-variety choice for new importers.
Chaunsa — the King of Mangoes
Origin: Multan in southern Punjab — the city that taught Pakistan how to grow mango. Chaunsa is the variety on which three generations of Pakistani mango export reputation is built. The Multan growing tradition is six centuries old, recorded in Mughal-era court records.
Flavour: Intensely aromatic — distinctive citrus-edge nose; flesh is pale-to-deep yellow, no fiber; silky texture with a clean sweet-citrus finish. Brix 22–24, the highest of the six.
Best markets: UAE, KSA, USA (via Dubai irradiation), Canada, UK. The most-flexible variety for a programmed retail mango program.
Why import it: Premium positioning, USA-viable (the only Pakistani variety routinely going to US retail), strong diaspora-retail demand in Toronto and London. The default second-variety choice — and frequently the first choice for premium-positioned retail.
Anwar Ratol — the connoisseur’s pick
Origin: Punjab. Smallest of the export varieties (120–200 g), with the strongest aroma per gram of any Pakistani mango. Premium diaspora-retail variety in UK and Canada — South-Asian consumers know the variety from family memory and pay for it.
Flavour: Intense aromatic complexity; flesh is bright yellow, fiberless; small seed, high pulp ratio. Brix 20–23.
Best markets: UAE, UK diaspora retail.
Why import it: Premium gift-pack positioning. Difficulty: small fruit means more cartons per MT, more handling, less efficient FOB. Usually shipped as part of a mixed-variety container rather than a dedicated Anwar Ratol load.
12 Number Ratol — the efficient Anwar
Origin: Punjab. The larger sibling of Anwar Ratol (200–280 g) — same flavour profile, more carton-efficient. Newer commercial variety than Anwar.
Flavour: Identical to Anwar Ratol — intensely aromatic, sweet, fiberless. Brix 20–23.
Best markets: UAE, UK.
Why import it: When you want the Anwar Ratol flavour profile in a larger, more carton-efficient pack format. Often the better commercial choice over standard Anwar Ratol for volume retail.
Langra — the early-season tang
Origin: Multan. Distinguished by green skin even at full ripeness — Langra never turns yellow. Flesh is lemon-yellow with slight fiber. Slightly tangy on first bite with a sweet finish — the most savoury of the six.
Flavour: Sweet-tart with green-mango notes; light fiber; refreshing rather than dessert-sweet. Brix 17–20.
Best markets: UAE, KSA, UK Gulf-style retail.
Why import it: Decades of consumer recognition in the Gulf. Ideal early-June fill between Sindhri opening and Chaunsa starting. Less recognised in Western retail — usually a complement variety rather than an anchor.
White Chaunsa Nawab Puri — the late-season finale
Origin: Multan. The richest late-season Chaunsa derivative. Window is short (mid-August to early September), allocation is small. Pale yellow-white skin; flesh is deep yellow, dense, no fiber. Brix 24+ — the sweetest commercial Pakistani mango.
Flavour: Intensely sweet with floral notes; honey-like depth; almost dessert-like. Brix 24+.
Best markets: UK and Canadian diaspora gift retail.
Why import it: Gift-pack positioning at end-of-season when consumers want to bookend the Pakistani mango year with a premium experience. Limited allocation — pre-book by end of May.
Less-exported Pakistani varieties
Beyond the six commercial varieties, the following are seen occasionally in regional retail but not routinely exported at programmed-container scale:
- Dussehri — early season, intensely aromatic, popular in Pakistani domestic retail
- Fajri — large fruit (500–800 g), long shelf life, Sindh-grown
- Saroli — small, intensely sweet, Punjab specialty
- Toofan — fast-ripening, sub-tropical Sindh
- Saharni — long, fiberless, Punjab
These can be sourced as mixed-variety LCL cargo on inquiry — they are not typically shipped as dedicated containers.
How varieties are graded and packed
Standard export pack is 4 kg single-layer cartons with corner protectors, 5–6 cartons palletised per stack, ≈ 1,200 cartons per pallet, ≈ 4,800 cartons per 40’ HC reefer. Grading:
- A grade: Premium retail — uniform size, no surface marks
- B grade: Volume retail — minor surface marks acceptable, uniform size
- Below B grade: Diverted to Pakistan domestic market — not exported
Hand grading at packhouse. Quality control by Zarkaar staff plus NPPO inspector signature.
Practical decision tree for a first-season importer
- Volume retail anchor → Sindhri
- Premium / diaspora anchor → Chaunsa
- Want both → Sindhri (May–July) + Chaunsa (July–August)
- Want gift-pack premium → add White Chaunsa Nawab Puri for August–September
- Want Gulf-style retail mix → add Langra for early June
- Want diaspora premium → add Anwar Ratol or 12 Number Ratol in a mixed container
Practical next step
To request variety-specific pricing or to discuss a mixed-variety container program, WhatsApp +92 300 9555810 or use the mango inquiry form.