Imagine waking up one day to discover that your backyard experiment has accidentally turned into a gold mine—one so valuable you need a squad of guards and a pack of furry bodyguards just to keep your produce safe. That’s exactly what happened to Sankalp Singh Parihar, a farmer whose tale is as sweet as the mangoes he grows (and yes, they’re the world’s most expensive!).
A Lucky Buy That Changed Everything
Parihar’s story begins with a simple twist of fate. A few years ago, this farmer from Bangladesh purchased a mango sapling for 2,500 rupees—about 28 euros. He didn’t know which variety it was, but he affectionately named it Damini after his mother and planted it like any ordinary mango tree on his farm in the village of Dhedagoua, about 20 kilometres from the small town of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.
« I had no idea what type of mango it was, » Parihar explained. « But I named it Damini for my mother and just grew it as a normal mango. » Several months later, something extraordinary happened: the fruit began to develop a stunning red hue, unlike any mango he’d seen before.
The World Discovers the Miyazaki Mango
It didn’t take long for Parihar to realize these weren’t your everyday supermarket mangoes. In fact, they belonged to the Japanese Miyazaki variety, also known as Taiyo-no-Tomago, or « eggs of the sun. »
- Miyazaki mangoes are prized worldwide for their sweetness and delicate texture.
- Each mango can fetch a jaw-dropping 40 euros apiece.
- Traditionally, they’re grown under meticulously controlled conditions of light and temperature on Japan’s Kyushu island.
Parihar described his newfound treasure: « The colour is gorgeous, and the texture of the pulp is like jelly. You can even eat the skin. »
From Farm to Fort Knox: Security Madness
As word of his miraculous mangoes spread, so did their fame—and envy. The buzz soon attracted unwanted attention. After a local TV station aired a report about Parihar’s farm, disaster struck: a thief broke in and made off with 14 precious fruits.
From that moment, farming took on a whole new meaning. To protect his fruity fortune, Parihar hired a 24-hour security team:
- Three guards (yes, real people, not just clever scarecrows)
- Six loyal dogs (with hopefully no taste for expensive fruit)
All this comes at a cost—8,000 rupees (90 euros) per month for security alone. But as Parihar says, « I’d rather pay for security than lose these mangoes, which are worth far more than money. »
Not For Sale—At Least, Not Yet
Tempted by offers as high as 21,000 rupees (240 euros) per kilo, Parihar and his wife Rani could have cashed in on their precious crop. But they’ve resisted so far. « These are our babies; our aim is to keep nurturing them and use their seeds to grow even more, » said the dedicated farmer.
He insists he has no intention of selling the fruit right now. His dream? To plant more saplings and, eventually, make Miyazaki mangoes affordable for people in India, offering them at 2,000 rupees per kilo.
The Root of Fortune: Care, Patience, and a Little Bit of Luck
So, what can we learn from the accidental rise of the world’s most expensive mango? Sometimes, fortune smiles on those willing to take a chance—and to protect what matters most, whether it’s fruit or family. If you’re feeling inspired, who knows? Maybe the next miracle in your garden is just a mystery seed and a sunny patch away.
John Smith is a culinary enthusiast and food blogger who discovered his love for Asian cuisine during his years living in Seoul and Tokyo. With a background in journalism, he brings a storytelling approach to exploring the cultural significance behind every dish. John is passionate about making Asian cooking accessible to home cooks and sharing the vibrant food scenes he encounters in his travels.
