Keitt is a large mango with a tapered, oval shape and a slight nose-like bulge above its tip. The peel is smooth and has an attractive appearance due to soft colouration ranging from pale green to yellow or pink. The flesh is lemon yellow, colouring from the stone outward, giving it a very firm feel until fully mature. The flesh has a chalky/powdery sweetness and minimal fibre surrounding the thin stone. The juicy flesh may have some small fibres, but they are not generally noticeable.
Keitt matures at a later stage than many commercial varieties, so can be quite large in size. This makes the variety popular with growers and retailers around the world, along with its storage and traveling capabilities.
Due to good storage capability, Keitt mangoes can be sea-freighted from their country of origin, which keeps the costs down for consumers. Unfortunately, sea-freighting requires the fruit to picked at an early stage of maturity which often means the full flavour potential of the variety is not experienced by the consumer.
Keitt mangoes are probably the most common variety on sale in supermarkets over the year. Eating quality is generally good: enjoyable without being exceptional, but usually reliable and sweet. Flavour can be excellent when the fruit is harvested at a more advanced maturity.
Good Fruit Guide Rating: ***
Keitt is a decent mango which can be delicious if harvested at the right time.
Large, fleshy, sweet
Names: Keitt
Origin: Keitt is a ‘Florida’ variety due to the origins as a commercial fruit in Florida. It was discovered as a seedling on the Florida property of Mrs J.N Keitt in the 1940’s, standing-out as being large, oval and maturing when green with some red blush.
Grown in: Keitt is grown in most mango regions, but the big commercial plantations tend to be in Central and South America.
Harvest & Availability:
- January:
- February:
- March:
- April: Peru, Costa Rica, Brazil
- May: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Puerto Rica, Mali, Ivory Coast, Gambia
- June: Puerto Rica, Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ivory Coast, Gambia
- July: Puerto Rica, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ivory Coast, Gambia
- August:
- September: Israel, Brazil
- October: Israel
- November: Spain
- December: Ecuador
