Miyazaki mango is the world’s most expensive and exclusive mango. With its oval shape and vibrant red or deep purple color, this mango is not only visually stunning but also incredibly delicious. Typically, just two of these mangoes weigh about a kilogram, and with a sugar content of over 15%, Miyazaki is one of the sweetest mangoes globally. Due to its bright red color, this mango is also known as the “Egg of the Sun.” The mango is named after Miyazaki, a prefecture on Japan’s Kyushu Island, where it originated. However, the mango’s worldwide fame largely stems from its price. In 2023, a kilogram of Miyazaki mangoes sold for 600,000 yen at an auction, which is over 450,000 BDT. In other words, the cost of two Miyazaki mangoes is more than the cost of over 3,500 kilograms of Amrapali mangoes. So, what makes the Miyazaki mango so expensive?
Overview
Mango is not a native fruit of Japan. While mangoes have long been popular in various regions of Asia, mango cultivation in Japan began during the Meiji era (1868 – 1912). Thus, it wouldn’t be accurate to call Miyazaki a Japanese mango. In fact, the Miyazaki mango is primarily an Irwin variety, which originally grew in Florida, USA. This variety is known for its oval shape, smooth skin, and bright or deep red color when ripe, resembling a red apple. Although it originated in Florida, the Irwin variety is cultivated in many countries worldwide, including several locations in Japan. In the 1980s, seeds of the Irwin mango were brought to Japan’s Kyushu region from Okinawa for commercial cultivation. However, a group of researchers from Miyazaki University and some local farmers began experimenting with the mango to create their unique variety. Combining ancient agricultural techniques with new technology, these researchers and farmers in Miyazaki Prefecture were able to complete the cultivation process of Miyazaki mangoes after several years. The main difference between Miyazaki and the standard Irwin variety lies in the cultivation techniques, making Miyazaki mangoes more delicious, sweeter, and have a longer shelf life compared to other mango varieties.
Miyazaki mango has long been one of Japan’s most luxurious fruit items due to its bright color, blemish-free skin, beauty, and taste. Japan is famous for its luxury fruits, such as square watermelons and large, blood-red grapes. However, the Miyazaki mango gained internet fame when a pair of these mangoes sold for 500,000 yen, or about 370,000 BDT, in 2016. In 2023, a pair of Miyazaki mangoes sold for 600,000 yen, or over 450,000 BDT. Of course, not all Miyazaki mangoes sell for such high prices. Only those that meet specific criteria earn the “Egg of the Sun” title, and these mangoes can fetch several hundred thousand yen. However, lower-grade Miyazaki mangoes are still sold in Japan’s luxury supermarkets for 5,000 yen or more, equivalent to over 3,500 BDT.
Why So Expensive?
The Miyazaki mango is one of the most luxurious and costly fruits in the world, renowned for its exquisite taste, vibrant color, and meticulous cultivation process. Here’s a look at why this mango commands such an extraordinary price.
Cultivation Process
While the Miyazaki mango is an Irwin variety, the reason for its different name lies in the cultivation methods used by the farmers of Miyazaki city. These cultivation methods are a major reason why Miyazaki mangoes are so expensive. In countries that don’t experience much snowfall, we don’t usually see fruit being cultivated in greenhouses. Miyazaki Prefecture, being the southernmost region of Japan, enjoys a warm climate. Snowfall is almost nonexistent in Miyazaki, making it an ideal environment for cultivating crops like mangoes. However, farmers in Miyazaki grow mangoes primarily inside greenhouses with controlled environments. First, farmers carefully plant young saplings in nutrient-rich soil inside greenhouses to protect them from pest attacks. In addition to regularly fertilizing and watering the trees, the temperature inside the greenhouse is strictly maintained. To ensure their mangoes earn the “Taiyo no Tamago” or “Egg of the Sun” title, farmers maintain a specific temperature, provide adequate airflow, and ensure the air inside the greenhouse is not too humid. The abundant sunlight is a significant factor contributing to the sweetness of Miyazaki mangoes.
However, because these mangoes are cultivated inside greenhouses, they don’t receive direct sunlight. Instead, farmers hang each mango from its stem using wires and attach reflective panels to ensure that sunlight is properly reflected onto the fruit. When the mangoes begin to ripen, each mango is wrapped in a mesh bag. Another distinctive feature of Miyazaki mangoes is that they are allowed to ripen fully and fall naturally, unlike other mango varieties, which are often harvested before fully ripening. The mesh bag prevents the mango from getting blemished when it falls to the ground. Besides being delicious, the absence of blemishes or green spots is another key factor contributing to the high price of Miyazaki mangoes. In short, along with taste, these mangoes must also be visually perfect. The cultivation process for Miyazaki mangoes is even more challenging and labor-intensive than that for mangoes destined for export from other countries.
Limited Production
One of the main reasons for the high price of Miyazaki mangoes is that they are only produced in the city of Miyazaki, Japan. Like most mango varieties in the world, Miyazaki mangoes are also a seasonal fruit. In Japan’s Miyazaki city, these mangoes are only harvested between April and August. The flowers of the Irwin variety’s Miyazaki trees are hermaphroditic, meaning they can self-pollinate. However, to ensure high-quality fruit, farmers rent bees from beekeepers during the flowering season and release them inside the greenhouse for pollination. After pollination, when small mangoes begin to form, farmers carefully inspect each tree. They prune the trees, removing any mangoes that do not meet their standards, allowing the selected mangoes to receive more nutrients and grow larger. To earn the “Egg of the Sun” title, a Miyazaki mango must weigh at least 350 grams. To ensure the mangoes reach this size, farmers deliberately limit production by removing excess fruits. Every farmer in Miyazaki Prefecture strives to have their mangoes earn the “Egg of the Sun” title, knowing that only a few will achieve it. However, the thought of fetching a high price at auction motivates farmers to meticulously care for their mangoes, limiting production to ensure they receive ample nutrients, sunlight, and care.
Labour Intensive
Japan is one of the world’s most technology-driven countries. Various advanced technologies are used in fruit cultivation in many countries to reduce human involvement, increase production, and lower costs. However, the cultivation process for Miyazaki mangoes is so controlled that it requires a significant amount of manual labor and experience. Each mango needs to be observed daily to ensure it receives adequate sunlight, and attention must be paid to the mango’s growth and color. This process is extremely time-consuming, labor-intensive, and requires experience. Additionally, the care for Miyazaki mangoes doesn’t decrease after cultivation. In fact, from cultivation to when the mango reaches the market, it undergoes numerous delicate processes, all done manually to prevent any blemishes. After harvesting, each mango is carefully wrapped in foam fruit nets for transportation. Labor costs in Japan are higher compared to other countries. Since Miyazaki cultivation is labor-intensive and time-consuming, the production costs are very high, contributing to the overall high price of even the regular Miyazaki mangoes.
Grading System
Not all Miyazaki mangoes are sold for 350,000 to 400,000 taka. According to the grading system of the Miyazaki Agricultural Economic Federation, the mangoes that pass certain criteria are awarded the title Taiyō no Tamago or “Eggs of the Sun.” These titled mangoes are the ones that fetch such high prices at auctions. To receive this title, inspectors from the Miyazaki Agricultural Economic Federation manually check each mango to ensure there are no green spots within the red color and that at least two-thirds of the mango’s skin is red. If the mango passes the color test, it is then weighed, and if it meets the standard weight of over 350 grams, it proceeds to the next stage where its sugar content must be 15% or higher as measured by a saccharimeter. This device measures the sugar content without causing any external damage to the mango.
Based on the existing sugar content and size, the mangoes are classified into five categories: AA, A, B, C, and Substandard. Among these five grades, only AA and A-grade mangoes have the opportunity to be labeled as Taiyō no Tamago. These mangoes are then given a special black and golden sticker bearing the “Taiyō no Tamago” inscription. Out of all the mangoes cultivated in Miyazaki Prefecture, only about 10% earn this prestigious title, which is why they command such high prices at auctions.
Status Symbol
Miyazaki mangoes cultivated in Japan have become a sort of status symbol. Due to the immense labor, care, and expertise required in their cultivation, even the non-titled grades of Miyazaki mangoes are sold at premium prices. The meticulous cultivation process, coupled with the mangoes’ beauty and exquisite taste, has solidified their position as luxury items. High-end stores are eager to stock these mangoes because displaying them enhances the store’s prestige and status.
Miyazaki in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is well-known for its diverse variety of mangoes, with over 300 types available across various regions. In Rajshahi alone, there are about 270 different varieties. Alongside local varieties, farmers in different parts of the country also cultivate various foreign mango species. The Miyazaki mango was introduced to Bangladesh sometime after 2010. Initially, some enthusiastic individuals and farmers collected seeds and saplings through family and friends and started experimental cultivation in rooftop gardens or small plots around their homes. The similarity between the climates of Japan’s Miyazaki region and Bangladesh sparked interest in cultivating this mango locally.
When a few individuals successfully grew this mango in their gardens, many farmers became interested in its commercial cultivation due to its high market value. According to media sources, Miyazaki mangoes are being cultivated alongside other varieties in the hill tracts of Chittagong. Beyond the Chittagong hill region, commercial cultivation is also underway in several districts, including Natore, Chapai Nawabganj, Rajshahi, and Rangpur. In the early stages of production in Bangladesh, a kilogram of Miyazaki mangoes sold for around 5,000 taka. However, as production increased, the price began to decrease, with farmers now selling them for 700 to 1,000 taka per kilogram, which may retail for two to three times higher. This raises the question: how is it possible to obtain in Bangladesh for a few thousand takas the same mango that sells for several lakhs in Japan?
In Bangladesh, Miyazaki mango cultivation has largely become a hype. It’s important to note that Miyazaki is not a specific mango variety but is essentially the Irwin variety. The unique cultivation and grading processes practiced in Japan’s Miyazaki region have given their mangoes a distinct identity. Although many in Bangladesh have imported seeds or saplings from Japan and begun cultivation, local farmers do not follow the specific environmental conditions and harvesting processes employed in Miyazaki, Japan. Moreover, there is no authority or guideline in Bangladesh for grading these mangoes. The red-colored Irwin mango variety has substantial demand worldwide due to its delicious taste, attractive appearance, and relatively long shelf life, making it highly suitable for export.
To profit from exporting this mango, quality yields must be ensured by providing better care to the trees and establishing standards through Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification or local benchmarks. Incorporating this mango into Bangladesh’s export basket could enhance foreign exchange earnings from the agricultural sector.
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