The Embassy of India in Riyadh, in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), hosted a distinctive culinary event titled “Indian Mango Indulgence” on July 16 at Tresor Modern Indian Restaurant in Al Yasmin. The festival celebrated the diversity and richness of Indian mangoes through a curated fusion menu and cultural exchange.
The evening featured canapés and gourmet mango dishes prepared by an award-winning team led by celebrity Chef Sanjay Thakur. Highlights included mango butter chicken, Goan mango fish curry, and mango lassi, while fusion dishes paired Indian mangoes with traditional Saudi ingredients such as Madinah mint, dates and Hasawi lemon.
Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, addressed the gathering and emphasized the importance of Indian mangoes in the global market, particularly in the Kingdom.
"This event not only celebrates the rich mango heritage of India but also reflects the culinary harmony between Indian and Saudi flavours", he said, noting that Saudi Arabia is a key importer of Indian mangoes.
The event also featured an interactive segment titled “Kheer Pe Charcha”, an informal video podcast discussing mangoes in Indian cuisine. One highlight was the “salad corner” that blended mango with millets, stating India’s promotion of sustainable and nutritious grains, especially after the UN-declared International Year of Millets in 2023.
India, which accounts for over 45% of global mango production and is home to more than 1,200 varieties, used the occasion to showcase regional specialties including Alphonso, Amrapali, Chausa, Dashehri, Langra, Mallika and GI-tagged varieties such as Fazli and Rataul.
Apart from this, a week-long Indian Mango Festival was inaugurated at Lulu Hypermarket in Murabba, Riyadh. The event aimed to introduce a broader Saudi audience to the diverse mango varieties from India.
To strengthen trade ties, an APEDA delegation also conducted a series of B2B meetings in Riyadh and Jeddah with leading retail chains, including Tamimi Markets, Panda Hypermarket, Danube, Al Jazeera, Al Raya, Othaim and Grandhyper, exploring expanded access to premium Indian mangoes in the Kingdom.