Is mango a stone or citrus fruit? Mango is an edible common type of fruit and despite not having a large pit in the middle like most stone fruit, it is indeed a stone fruit and not citrus. Mangoes are more of the cashew family, but this doesn’t mean they are nuts.
Mangoes are highly popular around the world not just for their sweet flavor but for a range of health benefits as well. Although mangoes are tropical fruits, they are from the drupe family. Mangoes are an excellent source of fiber and antioxidants. They are also nutrients that support eye and skin health.
The health benefit of mango is enough reason to make it your favorite fruit and although it’s just as popular as orange, these two do not belong to the same fruit family.
Mangoes are also said to contain antioxidants that reduce the risks of certain cancer. While mangoes can be grown in both tropical and subtropical regions, and it also looks like stone fruit. Hence, the question is, is mango a stone or citrus fruit? Read on to find out.
What Is A Stone Fruit?
To understand what category mangoes fall into, you need to first understand what stone fruits are.
Stone fruits are a type of drupes thin-skinned fruits that got their name from the stone placed in the middle of the fruit or the pit. Stone fruits are also known as drupes and these fruits often develop from flowers with superior ovaries.
Stone fruits tend to have skins that can be fuzzy or smooth and bruises on stone fruit often indicate a ripe and ready to devour fruit. Stone fruits are frequently misidentified, but they are large varieties of them which makes them highly seasonal.
Here are some common stone fruits you may be familiar with:
- Apricots
- Cherries
- Coconuts
- Green almonds
- Lychees
- Mulberries
- Peaches
- Dates
- Plums
- Mangoes
- Mulberries.
Is Mango A Stone Or Citrus Fruit?
Mangoes are classified as stone fruits and not citrus. They have a single large seed in the middle while citrus fruits are regarded as fruits that contain lots of citric acid and they fairly thick skins and pulpy flesh. Mangoes are tropical fruits just like citrus fruits but are from different biological classifications.
Citrus fruits fall under the Rutaceae family while mangoes are found under the Anacardiaceae family. Mangoes are quite tasty, but they have smooth peel and while they can be called juicy fruits, this is not the case with some citrus fruits that have a sour taste.
Mangoes do not fall under the same category as citrus fruits, and it rather belongs to the cashew family, but this doesn’t mean it can be classified as nuts. Mangoes are sweet and highly versatile fruits and since it has a single comparatively large seed in their middle, it’s classified as stone fruit.
Do mangoes have citric acid?
Yes, mangoes do contain a bit of citric acid but not enough to qualify them as citrus fruit. Raw mangoes contain acid that can help ease constipation. Acids that can be found in low concentrations in mangoes include citric acid, tartaric, ascorbic, malic acid, and oxalic acid.
Is it okay to eat mango every day?
Mango is filled with lots of healthy nutrients, and it’s one of the sweetest fruits which makes it a great alternative to sugary snacks. Although ripe mangoes are extremely sweet, the sugar is different from processed sugar, and it contains other essential nutrients that balance it out so yes, it can be consumed daily. This fruit is quite low in fiber though, so you won’t be eating too much of it. While this is a safer alternative to junk and unhealthy snacks, it is not ideal for people with diabetes, and it’s best to limit it to one or two in a day.
What is considered a citrus fruit?
Almost all varieties of fruits tend to be classified as citrus fruits hence it’s not hard to identify citrus fruits. Citrus fruits are fruits in the Rutaceae family of plants, these fruits are widely consumed over the world and are known for their tangy-sweet taste. Citrus fruits are pretty versatile and here are some of the most popular ones.
- Orange
- Lemon
- Grapefruit
- Ugli fruit
- Tangerine
- Persian lime
- Mandarin orange
- Citron
- Key lime
- Pomelo.
Wrapping Up
Mangoes are known as ”King of fruits” in some parts of the world. While this might be true due to their health benefits, but just like all sweet fruits, studies have also shown that consuming too many mangoes can increase blood glucose levels, so it’s best to eat in moderation.
Just like all stone fruit, it is delicious and has an amazing nutritional profile.