A Thousand People Formed an “MANGO”  — Only 7 Days Left for the Tainan International Mango Festival, Come Taste the Champion Mangoes

▲ A thousand people together formed the word “MANGO” (mango). (Photo / Courtesy of the Tainan City Government Agriculture Bureau website)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

On a hot summer day, cool off with mango shaved ice — it’s simply “the perfect match”! The 2013 Tainan International Mango Festival held a “Thousand People Come to Eat Mango Shaved Ice” event on June 30. A total of 1,000 visitors wore hats in five different colors to collectively form the shape of the word “MANGO” (mango), which was then captured from high above by a remote-controlled helicopter, setting a historic first for the festival.

Tainan’s Yujing is the birthplace of mango shaved ice. The Tainan City Government Agriculture Bureau invited local dessert vendors to carefully selectTainan’s Ataulfo mangoes to make fresh mango snowflake shaved ice. Using mango juice to create ice blocks, a special shaving machine was used to produce fluffy snowflake-style mango ice, which was then topped with freshly diced mango. The level of deliciousness and refreshment reached new heights. The event will run until July 7.

▲ The new variety “Imperial Concubine” mango, as big as a rugby ball, is priced at NT$300 each. (Photo / Eastern News)

The champion of the Ataulfo mango evaluation at the first Tainan Mango Festival has been announced, won by Huang Yongfu, head of the Second Fruit Tree Production and Marketing Class of the Nanhua District Farmers' Association in Tainan. In addition to Ataulfo mangoes, he also created a new variety called the “Imperial Concubine” mango, with a sweetness level of over 17 degrees. This year’s production is about 3,000 fruits, with each box priced at NT$1,500.