Grown in more than 100 countries, the mango is one of Asean’s most commonly encountered fruits.  However, while residents of Asean face little challenge when it comes to dealing with the sweet, juicy fruit, consumers in the USA find mangoes somewhat of a challenge.

In the 2017 video above, cooking channel Epicurious, a member of the Condé Nast Food Innovation Group, got 50 people in the USA and presented them with a mango and asked them to peel, slice, or dice the fruit in preparation for eating.

The results are almost as humorous as when US digital media company BuzzFeed got a group of Americans together for a Thai alcohol taste testing session and recorded the results (See: What do American’s think of Thai alcohol? (video)).

From the expressions on some of the faces, along with some of the sound-bites, it is clear that many have never come across a mango in their life. What entails is a series of less than delicate attempts using an array of cleavers, chef, and paring knives to try and expose the mangoes delicate, succulent flesh.

In much the same way as Thomas Edison is credited with saying, “I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work”, those in the clip above demonstrate more than 50 ways not to slice a mango.

With the pain of watching prime mangos being reduced to pulp becoming to great, Robert Ramsey, a culinary chef instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), steps in at the end of the clip to demonstrate some of the more professional ways to prepare your mango for the dinner table.

Philippines mango glut

The professional tips couldn’t come at a more opportune time. The Philippines has harvested a monster crop of mangoes this year and last month reported a surplus of more than two million kilograms (about 4.4 mln lbs) of the fruit.

Native to southern Asia, particularly Burma and eastern India, mangoes were introduced to Africa by the Portuguese in the 16th century, before making their way to Brazil in the 1700s and California (Santa Barbara) in 1880.

In ancient times the mango was considered a symbol of love, while some believe that the mango tree can grant wishes. Today the mango remains the national fruit of  India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, and is the national tree of Bangladesh.

Additionally, studies have found that the nutrients found in mangoes can deliver health benefits including improvements in immunity, digestion, eye, skin, and hair health, as well as lower the risk of contracting certain cancers.

Whether you prefer your mango sliced, diced, cubed, in strips or looking somewhat like a hedgehog, sit back and enjoy the entertainment as 50 Americans show how not to cut a mango.