Mango Concentrate ( Gina Mango Nectar Copycat )

        Yesterday's ice cream yielded one and a half gallon. The half gallon is gone, the gallon will be wiped out this afternoon, for sure.

        As I was clearing out the last few kilos of mangoes we put on display, I decided to make Mango Concentrate. Gina is the original and still the most popular brand of canned mango concentrate available in grocery stores. It is so thick and fruity delicious that restaurants serve an entire can, transferred to a tall glass with ice cubes, a mint sprig and bendy straw for a whopping price of $2!

        Since I am in possession of one of the world's sweetest mango varieties, I decided to do a copycat of Gina Mango Nectar.

Gina Mango Nectar

        This recipe is so easy to do. You may make these using citric acid as preservative, but I chose not to put any and go au naturelle and simply keep my concentrate in the fridge. The only specific instructions that must be followed is this: never let a drop of water touch the finished product. Make sure all equipment and storage bottles are bone dry prior to use. 

Mango Nectar/Concentrate

        For Moms who want only the very best for their schoolchildren, instead of packing foil-packed, store-bought juice drinks for kids, why not make your own fruit concentrates? Prepare your kid's drinking bottle the night before, by mixing in the concentrate with water, then freeze overnight. By the time recess bells rings, the juice has liquefied, is still cold and is fresh and all-natural! No artificial fruit colors or flavors and no additives.

        Did you know that certain food additives have been linked to hyperactivity in children? Below are images on Google of the dangers of putting food additives and coloring to food. My principle is simple: If food has an advertisement: its not REAL food.

This last one is my favorite, hilarious, but true!

Look familiar? they appear on our food labels

        I make mango, lemon, pineapple and guyabano concentrate to give the kids and myself, variety. Why buy powdered juice drink mixes or fruit-flavored tetrapacks when you can make these easily with real fruit and real vitamins? Besides, I would have to have something up my sleeve, in order to pull off weaning the family from drinking Carbonated drinks. Guess what? These were my weapons: real fruit concentrates, easily available, delicious, refreshing, easy to prepare. Who needs softdrinks when the fridge is full of fruit juices? We're now on our third month of softdrink freedom, YAY!

        Let's make Mango Concentrate! To make 1.5 liters pure concentrate or about 16 glasses of mango juice ( diluted ) for just 15 cents a glass:

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups ripe mango puree, run through a fine plastic sieve to remove tiny fibers
1-1/2 to 2 cups white sugar ( I used 1-1/2 c)
1 cup water ( I used 2 c because my mangoes are too sweet!)

PROCEDURE:

1. Boil the water and sugar until the latter is dissolved. It is not necessary to make a syrup out of it. Cool a little, about 5-8 minutes.

2. Add the mango puree, a cup at a time and stir together to completely mix the two. At this point, you may transfer the concentrate to sterilized glass bottles while hot, or to clean and dry plastic containers after it's cool enough not to melt the containers. Cool completely. Canners may can at this point.  For those who intend to use the concentrate within two weeks, may just seal the containers and refrigerate.

3. To serve: Fill a glass 2/3 full with the mango concentrate and top with ice cubes, a sprig of mint leaves and a bendy straw, or: for those who like it less sweet, add 2/3 cup ice water to a 1/3 cup of mango concentrate, stir and enjoy!

Samal mangoes in many forms: whole, sliced, concentrate and as fruit juice

NOTE: Without preservatives, the mango concentrate will last about 2 weeks refrigerated. Strictly using bone-dry equipment can make it last till the last drop. 

This is refreshing as a summer drink, tropical in flavor and color, sweet, exotic and luxurious at the same time.

Try serving these at your beach or pool gatherings for a touch of tropicalia

Go for REAL Food every time! Yes, too much sugar is not good for you, but real sugar is does not have the dangers of sugar substitutes like aspartame. Sugar in this case, acts as the food preservative. If another method of making fruit concentrates can be invented that doesn't use this much sugar would be very welcome, but until that time comes, I'm sticking with my fruit concentrates.