Myanmar is an undisputed master of the mango; that sweet, slimy bulb of pure tropical bliss.
With dozens of varieties to choose from, such as the prized Sein Ta Lone, Myanmar’s mangos are divine in all states of ripeness – from the crisp and sour to the tender and tangy. While there’s little room for improvement, alas, a few inspired barkeeps have found ways.
A recent probe by The Myanmar Times, our friendly local adversary, uncovered a few shocking truths about alcoholic beverages in Yangon, but their team of trusted tasters left one crucial stone unturned: The Mango Cocktail. And so without fear or favor Coconuts Yangon undertook an ambitious tour of the city’s watering holes to find the perfect combination of fruit and fermentation.
The winner, with flying colors, is “Spice Mango” at the Park Royal Hotel bar (see photo above). This might actually be the best cocktail I’ve ever had in my entire life, although it must be said I am only in my early 30s and there is so much more to go.
Using a martini glass, Park Royal’s friendly barman skillfully dices up a whole half of fresh mango, blends it to a perfect puree and shakes over ice with tequila, lemon juice, Cointreau and red chili.
Now, a lot of bars say they’ll make you a spicy drink, but this one actually means it. This drink falls well into the category of “Thai spicy”; it’s so good it kind of hurts. If that’s not your thing, though, I was thrilled to discover that Park Royal has an entire menu of drinks devoted to fresh mango, on offer until season’s end. At $5 each, I tried three and loved them all, but I may be biased by the fact that they all had mango in them and if it’s not clear already I really, really like mangoes.
But if you’re hungry, we recommend the runner-up: Mango Sour at Monsoon. There must be an entire mango cut up in there – ripe to perfection and served with a spoon. Drizzled over what is essentially a fruit cup is a small but savory mix of white rum and lime juice. At 4,500 kyats ($4) and a buy-one-get-one happy hour from 5-7 daily, I might be making this my regular dinner diet.
Honorable mentions are in order for a few of our other favorites.
The Blind Tiger, Yangon’s stylish speakeasy on Seikkanthar Road, makes a mean mango mixer, albeit a bit pricey at 7,000 kyats ($6). Made with fresh fruit and ginger, this drink pairs nicely with the Tiger’s delectable sea salt and garlic fries.
If you like the spice but you’re craving the rice, Fahrenheit, a Mexican joint on the corner of Bogyoke and Botahtaung Pagoda roads, serves up a spicy mango martini that would rival Park Royal’s if only it were made with fresh fruit. That said, this mix of chili-infused Smirnoff and… shall we say, essence of mango is among our favorite indulgences. Hit up their buy-one-get-one happy hour until 7:30 every day and all night on Fridays during the monsoon season.
The winner of ‘drink we wished was better because we absolutely love this bar’ goes to Ginki Kids in Golden Valley. The mango daiquiri, at 4,000 kyats ($3), was a bit too sweet and made from an indiscernible fruit concentrate. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t fully explore the alcoholic opportunities presented by Myanmar’s magnificent mangos. Like we said, we love this place, so just order a Myanmar Beer and enjoy.
A note to our readers: The mango season won’t last forever.
WATERING HOLE AND RESEARCH LOCATIONS
Park Royal Hotel
Alan Pya Pagoda Road at Yawmingyi
Monsoon
85-87 Thein Phyu Road, near Merchant Street
Blind Tiger
93-95 Seikkanthar Road, near Merchant Street
Fahrenheit
38 Bogyoke Road, near Botahtaung Pagoda Road
Ginki Kids
Kanbawza Road, near Kabar Aye Pagoda Road
