Langra: the green-skinned late bloomer that rewards the patient
The mango that refuses to turn yellow, and why that's exactly what makes it brilliant.
Named after a lame farmer
Langra, in Urdu, literally means 'lame'. The variety takes its name from an 18th-century farmer near Varanasi who walked with a limp and who first cultivated and propagated the cultivar. The name stuck across the subcontinent.
In Pakistan, Langra is grown almost exclusively in Multan, where the longer, drier summer gives the fruit its characteristic late ripening, well into August, when most other varieties have finished.
The green-when-ripe trick
First-time buyers send the cartons back. The fruit looks unripe, uniformly green, sometimes with a slight yellow blush at the stem. But press gently and the flesh yields. Cut it open and the inside glows saffron-gold.
Langra is one of the only commercial mangoes where skin colour is not a ripeness indicator. The trick is the feel: a ripe Langra has the give of a perfectly ripe avocado, even with apple-green skin.
Bright, tropical, complex
Where Chaunsa is honey-pure and Dosehri is delicate, Langra is bold and tropical. The notes are pineapple, citrus zest, a hint of mint on the back palate. It is the only Pakistani mango that holds its own against strong spices, diced into salsa with red onion and chilli, or muddled into a rum cocktail.
It is also the season's farewell. When the last Langra carton ships in mid-August, the Pakistani mango year is over for another nine months.
How Langra fits into the Pakistani mango season
The Pakistani mango season typically runs from May to August. Sindhri usually opens the year, Chaunsa carries the mid-summer window, Anwar Ratol and Dosehri overlap in mid-season, and Langra tends to close things out in August. Langra generally sits in the july to august window, timing varies each year with the harvest.
If you're new to Pakistani mango, the simplest plan is to try one variety at a time across the season. Availability varies by current allocation, see the current allocation on the shop before you order.
About Langra
Langra is one of several Pakistani mango varieties that PakMango.Com offers in season. It is generally associated with orchards in Multan, Punjab. Precise sourcing information for the current year's allocation is confirmed on the product page and in your order confirmation.
Fresh Pakistani mango is a seasonal product. What is actually available this week is shown on the current allocation on the shop.
How ordering and delivery work
Fresh Pakistani mango consignments arrive daily during the season. Most volume goes into our UK wholesale network; direct customer orders are allocated from the freshest available daily arrival. Eligible Greater London postcodes are normally delivered locally the following calendar day, including weekend orders. Elsewhere in mainland UK, tracked courier dispatch runs Monday to Thursday only. Delivery dates are estimates, not guarantees.
Delivery is by tracked DPD across the UK. Tracking is emailed once the carton enters the courier network. Delivery dates are estimates, not guarantees, harvest, weather, flights and customs may affect timing.
For anything specific to a carton, a courier delay, a damaged box, or a question about arrival, contact support via the contact page and we will help you resolve it in line with our published shipping and refund policy.
Comparing Pakistani mango to other options
Pakistani mango varieties have their own flavour signatures, Sindhri's citrus brightness, Chaunsa's honeyed sweetness, Anwar Ratol's perfume, Dosehri's delicate honey-melon, Langra's tropical complexity. They are different from Alphonso, Ataulfo/Honey and Kent-family supermarket mangoes in taste, texture and season.
As with any imported tropical fruit, ripeness at arrival depends on how the fruit is handled through the supply chain. If perfume and full flavour matter, plan to ripen at room temperature until the fruit yields to a gentle press, then refrigerate briefly before eating.
Where to read next
For a general seasonal overview, see the Pakistani mango season guide. For variety-specific details, see the varieties pages linked at the foot of this article.
For practical questions about ordering, timing and delivery, see the delivery page and the FAQ. For anything not covered there, the contact page is the fastest route to support.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is my Langra still green?
- Langra stays green when ripe, that's the variety's defining trait. Press gently: if the flesh yields, the fruit is ready to eat regardless of skin colour.
- When is Langra in season in the UK?
- Langra is the latest Pakistani mango, typically mid-July through mid-August, closing the season after Chaunsa, Sindhri and Anwar Ratol have finished.
- What does Langra taste like?
- Bright, tropical and complex, pineapple, citrus and a hint of mint. Less honeyed than Chaunsa, more interesting than most Indian varieties.
- Can I cook with Langra?
- Yes, Langra's firmer flesh and brighter acidity make it ideal for salsas, chutneys, slaws and mango pickle. It's the only Pakistani mango robust enough to hold up against chilli and lime.
- How long do Langra mangoes keep?
- Once ripe, eat within 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Frozen Langra pulp keeps for 9 months and is excellent in chutneys.
- Is Langra suitable for first-time mango buyers?
- It's more complex than Chaunsa or Sindhri. If you're new to Pakistani mangoes, start with Chaunsa or Sindhri. If you already know mango, Langra is the connoisseur's pick.
More from the journal
Chaunsa: why Pakistan's king mango refuses to travel by plane until it's ready
From Multan's white-hot summer to your kitchen, the 11-day journey of the most coveted Pakistani mango.
Sindhri: the mango that announces summer two weeks before everyone else
Pakistan's earliest premium variety, grown in the heat-shock plains of lower Sindh.
Anwar Ratol: the cult mango Pakistanis ration like saffron
Small, fragrant, and gone in three weeks, the variety that proves bigger is not better.
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