Mango-based beverages
This year I have been trying a lot of beverages with mangoes. Earlier I had shared a tropical mango smoothie, mango ginger ale mocktail and also a breakfast smoothie with mangoes. (Don’t forget to check vegan mango lassi, mango-lychee-pineapple smoothie too) Now I am adding one more mango-based drink to that list, and it’s the humble mango nectar or the juice. As we all know, mangoes are pretty famous in India, and so are mango juices. I still remember relishing some of the bottled mango juices and from the juice shops as well. And here is my humble attempt to recreate the same but with less sugar! And definitely, this is not a copy-cat version of any of those bottled juices.
Mango juice vs. nectar
I always find bottles of juices, concentrates, and nectars in grocery stores, and I always wondered about the difference. Sometimes they are used interchangeably as well. I learned and understood that fruit juice is 100% juice without any additives, whereas nectar is fruit juice mixed with sugar and sometimes preservatives. Again this definition varies as well. You can call the pureed mango with sugar syrup as mango juice concentrate as well. So many terms and definitions, right? Ok, call this recipe of mine mango juice or mango fruity or mango nectar. But it’s a simple blend of fresh mangoes and sugar syrup without any other preservatives or additives, and needless to say, it’s very refreshing and delicious.
Ingredients
We need three ingredients for making this mango drink. Mangoes – I went with the ataulfo mango variety. Any sweet non-fibrous variety is good. You can check the recipe notes for more details, especially if your mangoes are bland. Water and sugar – I went with an equal amount of water and sugar to prepare simple sugar syrup. If the mangoes are very sweet, adjust the sugar measure accordingly. Apart from these, we need more water and ice-cubes while serving.
Dietary specification and yield
It’s simple vegan mango nectar. But make sure to use vegan sugar! With the below measure, you get 3 cups of mango concentrate. And with that, you can easily make 4 to 6 servings (8 oz) of mango nectar juice.
Storing suggestions
So far, I have stored the mango blend for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. I highly recommend using it within 3 to 4 days or freeze it for a longer shelf-life. When needed, thaw it and dilute it further for making the juice. Now without any further ado, let’s see how to make this fresh mango nectar or the juice.
Homemade mango nectar recipe with step-wise pictures
Prepare the sugar syrup.
In a saucepan, combine ½ cup of water and ½ of sugar and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat and stir as required.
When the sugar dissolves, let it cool completely.
Prepare the mango blend/nectar.
Add the sugar syrup, 1 cup water, and chopped mangoes into the blender.
Blend it until smooth. And that’s it. The mango concentrate or the nectar is ready. Store this in an air-tight container. (Like the cherry lemonade syrup, you can use it in your cocktails or mocktails)
To serve
Mix ½ cup of the prepared mango blend with ½ cup of water and mix well. Add ice cubes and serve right away.
Recipe notes
Adjust the amount of sugar as per your preference and as per the mango variety. As always, I went with the ataulfo mango variety. Juicy and non-fibrous sweet mango varieties work well in this recipe. This mango juice entirely depends upon the quality of the mangoes. If you are stuck with bland and flavorless mangoes, you can add store-bought Alphonso puree or mango essence(2 to 3 drops). But it’s no longer fresh mango juice. It’s just a workaround. The mango concentrate is slightly thicker; that’s why we add extra water while blending and serving. Adjust the water as needed. Adjust the ratio of water to mango concentrate as per your taste. For a thicker mango juice, go with ¼ cup of water and ¾ cup of mango concentrate. You can also use other sweeteners of your choice. In the case of honey or maple syrup, you can blend along with mangoes. But make sure to add extra water.
More mango recipes
If you are looking for recipes with fresh mangoes, here they are. Enjoy!
Loved this recipe?
If you try this fresh mango nectar, please don’t forget to comment and rate this recipe. If you have any questions, please leave a comment, and I will get to it ASAP. Make sure to follow me on my Pinterest or Instagram or join my Facebook Group for recipe updates and simple Indian meal ideas.
📖 Recipe
