July 10, 2026 · 5 min read
Kesar vs Alphonso: Which Indian Mango Should You Buy?
Ask two Indian families which mango is best and you'll start a debate that outlasts the season. In one corner: Alphonso, the 'King of Mangoes' from Ratnagiri. In the other: Kesar, the 'Queen', from the Gir foothills of Gujarat.
Both are extraordinary. Here's how they actually differ — and how to choose your first box.
Alphonso: the king
Alphonso (Hapus) is dense, completely fibreless and almost custard-like, with a rich apricot-honey depth and a room-filling aroma. It's the mango by which every other mango is measured, and the reason Ratnagiri holds a GI tag.
Choose Alphonso if you eat mangoes sliced and unadorned, or you're gifting a box to someone who knows their mangoes. Peak season: April to June.
Kesar: the queen
Kesar is named for saffron — the colour of its flesh. It's honey-sweet with a warm, spiced note, smooth and juicy, and it holds its character beautifully in aamras, lassi, kulfi and desserts.
Choose Kesar if you love pulp-based dishes, want a slightly gentler price, or you're buying several boxes for a family that goes through mangoes fast. Peak season: May to early July.
Side by side
The honest comparison, box to box:
- Sweetness: both exceptional — Alphonso is richer, Kesar is brighter
- Texture: Alphonso is creamier; Kesar is smooth and juicy
- Aroma: Alphonso wins the room; Kesar wins the kitchen
- Best for aamras & desserts: Kesar
- Best for eating straight: Alphonso
- Price at Keri In Windsor: Kesar $45 / Alphonso $50 for a box of 12
The real answer
Order one of each. The season is short, the varieties peak weeks apart, and the debate is far more fun when it's happening at your own kitchen counter — in Windsor, Toronto or anywhere in Ontario we deliver.
The season won't wait.
Premium Kesar & Alphonso boxes, delivered across Windsor–Essex and Ontario. Reserve yours before the next batch sells out.
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