Taiwanese Irwin mangoes are making their way into the United Kingdom, where British consumers sampling the fruit at a Taiwanese specialty supermarket in London yesterday praised their delicate texture and sweet flavor.
One British shopper, identified only as Jane, described the Taiwanese Irwin mango as "absolutely beautiful," saying it was "perfectly ripe and very, very sweet" and stood out from mangoes typically sold in British supermarkets.
Photo: CNA
"They have a slightly different aftertaste -- almost herby," she said.
Sasha, who said he liked mangoes, noted that Taiwanese Irwin mangoes were less fibrous than those commonly available in grocery shops across London.
The mangoes were introduced to the UK by LingerMart, a supermarket in London's Richmond district founded and operated by a Taiwanese entrepreneur named Gili.
LingerMart, which sells a variety of products from Taiwan including snacks, drinks, noodles and condiments, recently imported a box of 14 Irwin mangoes from Taiwan as a trial run to test how they perform in the local market.
It has also begun accepting preorders for the mangoes on its online shopping platform, with deliveries scheduled for next month.
According to its Web site, preorders are offered in two options: a 2.5-kg box containing seven to eight mangoes priced at £117.99 (US$155.50), and a 5-kg box priced at £192.99.
The supermarket said it would begin in-store sales of the fruit in the first two weeks of next month.
LingerMart would soon open a second store in Windsor, about a 30-minute drive from Richmond.
The locations, including the one in Richmond, were chosen to reach a broader base of UK consumers, Gili said.
She said she decided to introduce Taiwanese mangoes after seeing their recent entry into the French market, which inspired her to bring the fruit to the U.K. while ensuring it is delivered fresh directly from Taiwan.
Mangoes are only the beginning, she said, adding that LingerMart hopes to import other seasonal Taiwanese fruit in future, including dragon fruit, lychees and pomelos, depending on availability.
The supermarket also plans to gradually introduce Taiwanese seafood such as milkfish, as well as specialty agricultural products from across Taiwan, including organic goods from Hualien farmers' associations.
Market research suggests high-quality Taiwanese fruit is not well suited for competition in mainstream UK supermarkets and better positioned in the premium segment, said Fan Chih-lun (范植倫), international trade manager at LingerMart.
Higher-end restaurants have already expressed interest in purchasing the fruit after having tried it, he said.
LingerMart's goal is not only to sell products, but also to show UK consumers that Taiwan produces high-quality fruit year-round, he added.
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