Juicy & Rich! Outstanding “Himegimi Mangoes” with over 15% in sugar content!

*The original Japanese article was posted on July 15, 2021.

Sales of Himegimi Mangoes are finished for this season.
Thank you to all who purchased these delicious mangoes.

I introduced the Himegimi Mangoes in the article posted on the English site on May 28, 2021, (https://okinawaclip.com/en/detail/1730) and so I decided to visit the farm during their harvest season.



Situated in Ogimi Village in the northern region of Okinawa Island is the well-known mango farm, Fine Fruits Ogimi, which has a long and proud history of mango production of 44 years. The Apple Mangoes produced here are grown with organic fertilizers and minimal pesticides and are tended with great care. Their rich fragrance and deep sweetness are what make their mangoes so popular not just in Okinawa but sought after for many years at high-end department stores and fruit specialty shops across Japan.



Inside the 25 greenhouses on the farm are countless mangoes that are ripe and ready for harvesting, with each fruit carefully protected by a bag. When held in your hand, the mangoes are heavy and you can feel that they’re packed with juicy goodness.



Each mango is meticulously checked for the perfect time to harvest, and each one is clipped off the branches by hand. Just before shipping, the fruits undergo a stringent separation process according to their size and level of sugar content.





Mangoes usually have about 13-14% sugar content (melons contain about 14% and peaches have about 13%), but to be labeled as a Himegimi Mango, the sugar content must be 15% or higher. Using a light sensor that measures the sugar content of each mango, only the finest quality fruits are selected for shipping.



The name Himegimi comes from the Japanese words for “sun,” “plenty,” and the last two characters of Ogimi. The staff at Fine Fruits Ogimi share a common commitment “take great care in growing them and to deliver the mangoes to our customers in the best condition.” Added in the container is a written explanation on how to tell when the fruit is ripe and ready to be enjoyed and suggestions on how to cut and eat the mangoes. You can really see their dedication in the extra care.


 

On the packaging are Bingata patterns, and this proud traditional art of Okinawa adds to the specialness of these mangoes. The Bingata design was done by Toma Chinen, the head of one of the famed families of Bingata craftsmen who have produced countless works of fine Bingata since the period of the Ryukyuan dynasty. The design is inspired by the sunlight that pours down onto the mango farm, the sounds of the breeze, the blessings of water, the vitality of the trees, as wells as the traditional bamboo hats, Kuba-gasa, and the bees that pollinate the plants.

Part of the sales of Himegimi is donated to the continuation and advancement of traditional Okinawan crafts and also support the Bingata craftsmen. The logo has mango fruits, the sun, mountains, and the sea, inspired by their hopes that people will capture “the image of fruits packed with the natural blessings of Okinawa.”

The finest quality of mangoes have colors and shapes that meet the highest standards and are recommended for gifts, and those with shapes and colors that may be a little less perfect or with very slight scratches are sold at lower prices and are recommended to enjoy at home.


 

Ripe and juicy mangoes have a brilliant orange color to them and have a rich texture and taste. You can taste the perfect balance of its sweetness which is enhanced by gentle and rounded acidity.

The harvest season for mangoes only comes around once a year, so when you get a chance, order your Himegimi when you can




Okinawa CLIP photo writer, Sachiko Tachi.