Mango and Poison Ivy

Fumie's dad brought some Mangos from Malaysia today (quite illegally, I might add — bad Daddy, bad!).

We were warned not to touch them, as some people apparently have some kind of painful skin reaction to mangos (including Fumie's dad, very apparently). We used Saran Wrap to hold it while we peeled it, then ate the fruity flesh with a fork. It was quite tasty... much more musky than the normal store-bought Mango I've had in the US or Japan, perhaps because they were picked ripe, not ripened on a boat during shipping.

I thought the warnings about skin reactions seemed a little farfetched, but it didn't take much searching to find out that Mango is in the same family as Poison Ivy (along with, oddly enough, the cashew tree). It can be quite painful, if you're allergic.

There's a nice page on it in the wikipedia. There's more than anyone will likely ever want to know about the mango on a page at the University of Georgia.


All 2 comments so far, oldest first...

I have severe reactions to poison ivy,eyes swollen shut, chills quite sick, missed a week of school. Loved mangos until I got a beautiful rash all over my face. Then discovered (quite by accident) if you have extreme reactions to poison ivy you can react to mangos. Now I only have mangos if I can get someone to peel it for me. My sisters will take pity on me once in a while

— comment by Tracy on July 20th, 2008 at 11:58am JST (15 years, 8 months ago) comment permalink

Hello! I’m from Malaysia. I’m interested in your experience with eating Mango from Malaysia. There are actually a few types that secreted a kind of gum/treacle like substance that can cause itchiness but not to the point that you cannot touch them: you guys have much too sensitive skin 😉 . If you ever going here someday try the Harummanis (translation: Fragrance Sweet) variety. That one is fleshy and as its name suggest sweet and fragrance. I have noticed that your photography skills improved incrementally each year, keep up 🙂 I’m thinking of making it a hobby but the equipments can get pretty expensive. Anyway happy days ahead for you and your family.

— comment by gummy bear on October 27th, 2008 at 2:07am JST (15 years, 5 months ago) comment permalink
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