A customer checks out mangoes at a shop at Income Tax roundabout in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

The king of fruits has made a smashing debut in the state capital this summer. Though few in number and priced quite high, mangoes have received a warm welcome from its lovers in the city.

“Not many people get to taste the first mangoes of the season. But my family is never deprived of the juicy taste of the fruit. I make sure we get the first fruits to arrive in the market every year,” said Hemlata Singh, a connoisseur of mangoes.

Singh had turned up at Phal Bazaar near the Income Tax roundabout to purchase some from the first batch that arrived on Sunday. It is one of the few places, along with Boring Road and the new secretariat area, where mangoes are available at present. But citizens can only buy two types of the fruit — gulab khas and Oriya Malda.

These, too, are priced rather high. The variety from Odisha can be bought for Rs 150 to Rs 180 per kg. One would have to shell out between Rs 250 and Rs 300 per kg to savour the rosy texture of gulab khas — celebrated by Urdu writer Abul Fazal Siddiqui in an eponymous story.

Asked about the steep prices, Singh told The Telegraph: “I know it is expensive but my husband and children just love mangoes. I don’t mind spending a little extra to buy the king of fruits.”

Fruit sellers are happy with the initial response of the customers. Mohammad Karim, a fruit seller, said: “Though only two variety of mangoes are available at present, we are getting a good response. While gulab khas comes from Maharashtra, the Oriya Malda variety is cultivated in south India.”

Both the buyers and the sellers are, however, missing the delicious alphonso mangoes. Explaining the reason for their conspicuous absence, fruit seller Mukesh Prasad told The Telegraph: “These are very expensive at present. One box would cost between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500. We feel it would not be very profitable to order these now.”

But mango lovers disagreed. “If alphonso mangoes are available, we will buy it,” said Boring Road resident Pratima Kumari.

On other popular mango varieties, like Malda and dasaheri, a fruit seller said: “They will be available in the last week of April or early-May.”

Malda mangoes from Bengal are legendary. They were very popular among the erstwhile nawabs of the neighbouring state. It is grown in Digha as well. The dasaheri mangoes are famous for their fibreless pulp and thin seed.

R.K. Sohane, director (extension), Bihar Agriculture University, Sabour, told The Telegraph: “This year, there would be good a production of mangoes in the state. They will find good market if the monsoon is favourable. At present, mangoes are expensive because of transportation charges.”