Orange Essence is a rare Florida mango from Gary Zill's breeding program, grown from a Kent seedling. It's a medium-large, roundish fruit with smooth, fiberless yellow-orange flesh and a rich, very sweet flavor with citrus notes. We're still confirming when it ripens on our Merritt Island trees.
Where does Orange Essence come from?
Tropical Acres Farms reports that Orange Essence is Zill planting 40-33, a seedling of Kent that may have had the Gary mango as its pollen parent, from Gary Zill's program in Boynton Beach, Florida. The fruit is shaped like Kent: round, medium-large and yellow at maturity. The 2025 Zill and UF/IFAS cultivar review lists it at 12–17 oz.
What does Orange Essence taste like?
Tropical Acres Farms describes “a wonderfully and intensely rich Gary-type citrus flavor with terrific sweetness.” The 2025 Zill and UF/IFAS review calls the pulp smooth and yellow-orange, “rich, very sweet with citrus notes,” and rates its overall flavor intensity as mild, with sugar readings of 13.8–19.6 °Brix.
Orange Essence vs. the Lemon Meringue family
Orange Essence doesn't come from Lemon Meringue or its seedlings. Tropical Acres Farms points out that its citrus flavor is distinct from the citrus found in Lemon Meringue and its descendants, Lemon Zest and Orange Sherbet. If you love citrus-forward mangoes, comparing them is half the fun.
When is Orange Essence in season?
Our Merritt Island season runs roughly May through September. We're still confirming exactly when Orange Essence ripens on our trees. Further south, the Zill and UF/IFAS review lists it as mid- to late season, and Tropical Acres Farms picks it July–August.
How to order
Orange Essence is a Rare & Collector variety: $197 for a Small Box (4–5 lb) or $247 for a Large Box (8–10 lb), with free USPS Priority shipping (2–3 days) to the lower 48 states except California. We can't ship to Alaska, Hawaii or U.S. territories. It's a pre-order for the 2027 season, and harvest timing on our trees is still being confirmed; we email you before your box ships. If the harvest comes up short, you can choose a substitute variety or store credit for the full amount (no cash refunds). Pre-order Orange Essence mangoes.
More grower's guides: What is a Lemon Zest mango?, What is an Orange Sherbet mango?, and What is a Lemon Meringue mango?