Malda Mango

Dudhiya Malda considered King of Mangoes in Bihar.

We know that mango is the king of fruits. But do you know who is the king of mangoes? ‘Dudhia Malda’ mango of the Digha Ghat region of Patna, Bihar is also known as the king of mangoes.

It is called Dudiya because once the skin of the mango is scratched milk-like liquid oozes out. ‪

With its thin skin, small seed, less fibre, milking yellow pulp, and unique sweet aroma, are was considered among the best by connoisseurs.

These mangoes are directly from the farms of Digha, Bhagalpur, Barbigha of Bihar.

This is sweeter and has a unique smell. It has a thinner cover as compared to other types of mangoes.

Malda, also known as ‘King of Mangoes’ in Bihar is completely non-fibrous, making it a good pick for chutneys. It is sweet-sour in flavour and is pulpy and delicious. How to identify: It has a thinner cover as compared to other types of mangoes and has a sweet aroma.

This is a famous variety of mango cultivated in Bihar and is famously irrigated with milk isgaining popularity in many countries.

This variety was brought from what is today Pakistan; irrigated with milk, and hence given the name that translates as Milky Malda (Malda being the place). In the world of mango cultivators, if Lucknow’s Dusseri is the queen of mangoes then Digha’s Malda is the king.

In Bihar, Dudhiya Malda is known as the King of Mango.

In the year 1952, famous film actor Raj Kapoor and singer Suraiya came to Digha’s mango orchards and picked cartons of the fruit for carrying to Mumbai.

India’s President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, who hailed from Bihar introduced Dudhiya Malda to many personalities including Indira Gandhi and they became fans of this fruit. Dr Rajendra Prasad himself was very fond of Digha’s Malda.

During his sojourn in Rashtrapati Bhavam, Rajendra Babu would often mention Digha ka Malda in his conversations. In 1962, when the President came to Patna, the Malda had a very good harvest.
Since that time each year, a consignment of mangoes is sent from Digha to prominent personalities, politicians, industrialists, and celebrities.

Malda mango is also grown in Bhagalpur and some other districts of Bihar, but the taste of milky Malda of Digha Ghat is quite different from it. This variety is famous for its sweetness, distinctive colour, smell, more pulp and thinner kernels and peels.

Digha has situated right on the bank of river Ganga. Digha resident Hasrat Hussain Awaaz tells The Voice that the aroma of the delicious mango that used to fill the area is slowly disappearing. Once there was an empire of milky Malda mango orchards in the areas of Digha and Rajiv Nagar of Patna.
Now concrete structures have taken over the orchards. Some gardens have survived on Digha and Ashiana Road. Hasrat says that mangoes were sold by count in the sixties, not at the rate of kilos. Then twelve to fourteen mangoes were available for one rupee.

Hasrat emphasizes the need to plant milky Malda trees on a large scale in other parts of the state and says that the government should focus on the conservation of this variety of mango.