Mango Education
What GI tagging means for Alphonso (Hapus) mangoes. How to identify genuine GI-tagged Ratnagiri and Devgad mangoes. Why carbide-free matters. For buyers in India, USA, UAE and UK.
When you buy or gift an Alphonso mango, the terms "GI-tagged" and "carbide-free" appear everywhere. But what do they actually mean — and why should they matter to you when choosing a mango gift for your family in India?
This guide explains everything buyers and gifters need to know about GI-tagged Alphonso mangoes.
A Geographical Indication (GI) tag is an official certification granted under India's Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. It certifies that a product originates from a specific geographical location and possesses qualities or a reputation due to that origin.
Think of it like:
There are two GI registrations relevant to Alphonso mango gifting:
Both registrations certify that the mangoes come from specific orchards in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, grown without artificial ripeners, and meet specific quality standards.
A GI-tagged Ratnagiri or Devgad Alphonso mango must meet strict criteria:
Calcium carbide (CaC₂) is a chemical compound illegally used by some fruit vendors to artificially ripen mangoes and other fruits. When it contacts moisture, it releases acetylene gas — which mimics ethylene, the natural fruit-ripening hormone.
The problem: calcium carbide often contains traces of arsenic and phosphorus, which are harmful to human health. The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has banned the use of calcium carbide for fruit ripening under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011.
All mangoes on GiftAMango.com are 100% carbide-free, naturally ripened in farm conditions. FSSAI licence 10020022011783 guarantees food safety compliance.
Brix (°Bx) is a measurement of the sugar content in fruit juice. Higher Brix = sweeter fruit. For reference:
| Fruit | Average Brix |
|---|---|
| Regular supermarket mango | 10–14° |
| Good quality Alphonso | 15–18° |
| GI-tagged Ratnagiri Alphonso (ours) | 18–22° |
| GI-tagged Devgad Alphonso | 20–24° |
A Brix of 18-22° means our Alphonso mangoes are naturally among the sweetest you can buy — no artificial sweeteners, no carbide ripening, just the result of Ratnagiri's unique soil, climate, and traditional farming.
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) — India's national food safety regulator. Our FSSAI licence number is 10020022011783, issued to Proveda Superfoods Pvt Ltd. This means every mango you receive has been processed, packed, and delivered in a FSSAI-compliant facility.
APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) — India's export quality regulator for agricultural products. APEDA registration means our mangoes meet export-quality standards — the same standards required for shipping mangoes to Europe, USA, and Japan.
When ordering Alphonso mango gifts through GiftAMango.com:
When you gift someone a box of GI-tagged Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes, you're not just giving fruit. You're giving:
GI-tagged Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes — pay internationally, we deliver in India in 2-4 days.
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