Senthoora vs Alphonso vs Malgova: which mango is which?
Senthoora is Salem's signature mango — deeply sweet, almost fibre-free, with a reddish-pink blush. Alphonso comes from Maharashtra's Konkan coast and is prized for its aroma and saffron flesh. Malgova is a large, round, very sweet Tamil Nadu variety. We grow Senthoora and Totapuri — not Alphonso or Malgova — so this is an honest side-by-side.
Side by side
A quick comparison of four varieties people often weigh up. Seasons are approximate and shift with the weather each year.
| Senthoora | Alphonso | Malgova | Totapuri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where it grows | Salem district, Tamil Nadu | Konkan region of Maharashtra — best known from Ratnagiri and Devgad | Tamil Nadu — Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri | Widely across South India |
| Season | April – June | Roughly March – June | Later, around May – June | April – June |
| Taste | Rich, deep sweetness | Sweet with a strong, rich aroma | Very sweet | Mild, refreshing, gently tangy |
| Flesh & texture | Dense, smooth, almost fibre-free | Saffron-coloured, smooth, fibreless | Soft and juicy | Firm, fibre-free, holds its shape |
| Look | Golden yellow with a pinkish-red blush | Golden yellow, medium-sized | Large and round; often still mostly green when ripe | Elongated with a beak-like tip |
| Best for | Eating fresh, juicing | Eating fresh, desserts | Eating fresh | Eating fresh, juicing, pickles |
| At NativeRoots | Yes — grown on our farm | No | No | Yes — grown on our farm |
Senthoora: Salem's own
Senthoora takes its name from the Tamil word for vermillion, after the reddish-pink blush on its skin. It is the variety Salem is most celebrated for: dense, sweet flesh with very little fibre, and a sweetness that is rich rather than tangy. Salem's red laterite soil and warm, dry summers are a big part of its character.
Ours come from trees over a decade old on our farm in Panaimadal, hand-picked and ripened in paddy hay. More about our Senthoora.
Alphonso: the Konkan favourite
Alphonso (often called Hapus) is grown in the Konkan region of Maharashtra and is best known from Ratnagiri and Devgad. Since 2018, Alphonso from the Konkan has carried a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. It is famous for its aroma and its smooth, saffron-coloured, fibreless flesh, and it tends to arrive early in the season.
If you love a perfumed mango, Alphonso is the benchmark. Senthoora is the closer choice if you prefer a deeper, denser sweetness.
Malgova: big, round and sweet
Malgova (also spelled Malgoa or Mulgoba) is a Tamil Nadu variety grown in the same belt as Senthoora — around Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri. It is known for large, round fruit and very sweet, juicy flesh, and it usually comes a little later in the season. It often stays mostly green even when ripe, so go by smell and feel rather than colour. We do not grow Malgova, so we can only describe it, not sell it.
Where Totapuri fits
Totapuri — Kilimooku, or "parrot's beak", in Tamil — is the odd one out: mild, refreshing and gently tangy rather than intensely sweet, with firm, fibre-free flesh. That makes it the go-to for mango juice, milkshakes and pickles. More about our Totapuri.
Which should you choose?
The right mango depends on how you plan to eat it:
- Sweetest eating mango from Tamil Nadu: Senthoora.
- Most aromatic: Alphonso.
- Juice, milkshakes or pickle: Totapuri.
- Whatever you choose, ask how it was ripened — natural ripening matters more to flavour than the variety name.
Sources
- Alphonso Geographical Indication application record (IP India)
- Senthoora and Totapuri details are from our own farm in Salem; Alphonso and Malgova descriptions are general and vary by orchard and season.
Frequently asked questions
Which is sweeter, Senthoora or Alphonso?
Both are sweet. Senthoora has a rich, deep sweetness with dense flesh; Alphonso is prized more for its strong aroma and smooth saffron flesh.
Is Malgova the same as Senthoora?
No. Both are Tamil Nadu varieties grown around Salem, but Malgova is a large, round mango that usually comes later in the season, while Senthoora is known for its reddish-pink blush and dense, almost fibre-free flesh.
Where does Alphonso mango come from?
Alphonso comes from the Konkan region of Maharashtra, best known from Ratnagiri and Devgad. Alphonso from the Konkan has carried a Geographical Indication (GI) tag since 2018.
Which mango is best for juice?
Totapuri. Its mild, gently tangy flavour and firm, fibre-free flesh make it the usual choice for mango juice, milkshakes and pickles in South India.
Does NativeRoots sell Alphonso or Malgova?
No. We grow and sell Senthoora and Totapuri from our own farm in Salem.