Palatability and nutritional significance of solar dried mangoes for Senegal

Three varieties of grafted mangoes were dried to a moisture content of 9–11 percent utilizing a greenhouse model solar dryer which measured about 4.5 sq m and had a drying capacity of 20 kg of tray‐ready mangoes. The results showed that after six months of storage, 1) retinol equivalents of beta carotene and vitamin C contents of 100 gms of dried mangoes averaged recommended dietary allowances respectively for children; 2) the Kent variety contained relatively substantial amounts of iron; and 3) acceptability ratings for dried slices and desserts were generally ok to excellent and were not influenced by the brightness and sweetness additives tested, these results have significant relevance to nutritionally at‐risk populations in Tropical Africa where mangoes are seasonally plentiful and popular but go to waste in large amounts because of the lack of appropriate preservation technologies.

Key words:

• Mango
• B‐carotene
• carotenoids
• vitamin C
• solar dryers
• dried fruits
• Senegal
• iron
• mango snacks
• mango desserts