Description
Keitt mangoes are oblong in shape with a pale to dark green skin, though they occasionally have a yellow blush. The color can be misleading, and the only real way to determine whether these large mangoes are ripe is by touch. The skin should give slightly to the touch, and even then the mangoes could rest for a few more days. Keitt mangoes are fiber-free with a thin seed, allowing for a greater amount of smooth-textured, orange-yellow flesh. Keitt mangoes have a tangy sweet flavor with a hint of honey.
Keitt mangoes are available for a short time during the late summer and early fall.
Keitt (pronounced kEEt) mangoes are the largest of the Mangifera indica cultivars seen in the United States market; sometimes reaching a weight of up to five pounds. Keitt mangoes are said to be some of the most flavorful and tangy mangoes available. Keitt mangoes grown in California are held up to stringent organic standards.
Keitt mangoes are best eaten fresh, out-of-hand, but can also be added to fruit salads, pureed for smoothies or sorbet, or added to any number of savory dishes. To prepare, slice pieces of mango from around the seed and cut the flesh in a cross-hatch pattern. Turn the slices inside out and cut the cubes from the skin. The cubes freeze well for use at a later date. Keitt mangoes pair well with various stone fruits, citrus and berries; and can be used in a variety of baked goods like muffins and scones.