This Unexpected West Indies Island Is The Mango Capital Of The Caribbean – Forbes

A hidden gem in the Caribbean

A mere three hour plane ride from Miami, toward the more well-known islands of Anguilla and St. Martin, youll find Nevis. This less than 36-square-mile island was once a star in the sugar trade world, but when the last sugar factory shut down in the 1950s it became an island that thrives on tourism though its not an island thats typically on everyones radar. Fun fact: its where Alexander Hamilton was born. To get to Nevis, youll probably fly into its more urban sister-island, St. Kitts, and take a 15 minute boat ride over.

A peaceful and magical getaway, Nevis is a barely touched gem that allows its visitors to get a true taste of the Caribbean. And one of those delicious things youll undoubtedly taste on a visit to Nevis is mango 44 different kinds, in fact. Theres so many mangoes on Nevis that its without a doubt the Mango Capital of the Caribbean, but youve got to visit the island in order to enjoy this abundantly juicy fruit since its not exported off the island.

Bankie hosted several mango tasting sessions at the Nevis Mango Festival

Ronald Bankie King, not only works for the Nevis Department of Agriculture, but hes known for being the foremost expert in all things mango in Nevis. Though the official variety count of mangoes in Nevis is 44, Bankie says theres easily 200 or so that he can name off the top of his head, because over the years people have grafted trees from other countries and brought them over knowing theyd thrive in the islands soil.

Because of Nevis Peak (a potentially active volcano that sits in the very center of the island), our soil is rich and mangoes can grow anywhere, says Bankie. Everyone has mango trees, they even grow wild on the side of the road. You dont really have to nurture or take care of the trees for them to survive. They just appear and produce.

Some of the more popular varieties are Gods Blood, Ice Cream, Round Ball, Amory Polly, Stephen, Teeny, Julies, Cream, and Grafted mangoes all of which Bankie mentions he can recognize by blind tasting or just a quick glance at the fruit.

With as many mangoes as there are on the island, Bankie says they cant possibly use them all. Were almost overrun with mangos. We cant make our way through all of them, says Bankie. Plus, with the regulations around fruits, its not possible for them to export this delicious crop, because it can be affected by the mango seed weevil. Fortunately, this pest doesnt affect mangoes eaten on the island, but requires that every Nevisian mango stays put basically in its own version of quarantine.

There are 44 official varieties of mangoes in Nevis

In an attempt to make use of the thousands of mangoes produced on Nevis each year, the Nevis Tourism Authority hosts an annual Nevis Mango Festival that takes place the first weekend in July featuring three days of events and activities all centered around the tasty fruit, as July is peak season for mangoes.

With so many different types of mangoes grown here, they are an integral part of Nevisian cuisine, said Devon Liburd, Nevis Tourism Authority interim CEO. Each variety has a slightly different look, taste and texture, giving our chefs lots of opportunities to be creative. We believe the Mango Festival is the perfect way to experience a Caribbean vacation with a distinctively Nevisian flavor.

Scenes from the mango cocktail competition

The festival features a dozens of chefs from both Nevis and St. Kitts showcasing mango-centric dishes. Think mango chutneys, mango salsas, mango curries, mango hot sauce, mango smoothies, mango skewers, mango rice everything mango. Theres also a Mango Eating Contest, a Mango Cocktail Competition with some of the islands top bartenders, a Mango Wellness Zone where guests are treated to mini massages using mango butter products, and a Mango Cooking Competition featuring notable local chefs who compete Chopped-style on stage with a mystery basket of ingredients while still making sure to highlight Nevis mangoes in each dish.

Mango at Four Seasons Nevis

Those looking for even more mango during their visit to Nevis are encouraged to pop over to Mango restaurant at Four Seasons Nevis, a stunning open air restaurant right on the water serving delightful Caribbean cuisine and delicious cocktails by resident Master Mixologist, Kendie Williams. Naturally, as the name implies, youll find plenty of mango dishes and beverages on this menu from a mango and pumpkin soup with quinoa and coconut cream to curried green mussels with mango chutney, and a mango cheesecake for dessert.

Mangojito: a refreshing mango-forward take on a mojito

Looking to sip your mango? Opt for the Mangojito, a fun take on a mojito made with Brinley mango rum, mango puree (most likely made using mangos grown right in Kendies backyard), soda, mint, and lime.

Unlike most Caribbean islands, Four Seasons Nevis is the only big resort youll find on the island. Theres a charming law in Nevis that states nothing can be built higher than a coconut tree, so you tend to find lots of small inns, rental homes, and villas many of which are also home to lots of mango trees with fruit ready for picking if youre visiting anytime from June to early September.

If youre visiting, dont be shy in your mango consumption. The locals say they are best eating straight from the tree and theres plenty to go around.

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This Unexpected West Indies Island Is The Mango Capital Of The Caribbean - Forbes