Anwar Ratol vs 12 Number Ratol — What's Actually Different?
Same variety family, different cultivar tiers. Standard Anwar Ratol: 16–20 fruit per kg, smallest, most intense flavor concentration per gram. 12 Number Ratol: 12 fruit per kg, slightly larger fruit (150–200g), premium tier, easier to portion. Both share the variety's signature honey-floral aroma and silky custard texture. 12 Number is what we ship.
The naming convention explained
Pakistani mango trade traditionally grades premium varieties by the number of fruit packed per kilogram. The smaller the number, the larger the average fruit, and the more premium the grade. For Anwar Ratol specifically:
| Grade | Fruit per kg | Avg fruit weight | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Number / 20 Number | 16–20 | 50–70g | Standard Anwar Ratol |
| 14 Number | 14 | ~70g | Mid-grade |
| 12 Number | 12 | 80–85g | Premium |
| 10 Number (rare) | 10 | ~100g | Top-tier export grade |
The 12 Number designation is the most common premium tier you'll see in Pakistani markets and on direct-from-farm boxes like ours. 10 Number Ratol exists but is largely reserved for high-end export channels.
Why size matters for Anwar Ratol
For most mango varieties, fruit size has minimal effect on flavor. A larger Chaunsa tastes essentially the same as a smaller Chaunsa — same variety, same flavor compound concentration. But Anwar Ratol is different.
Anwar Ratol's flavor intensity scales inversely with fruit size up to a point, then plateaus. The smallest standard Ratol fruit (50–60g) is the most flavor-concentrated per gram — but it's also tiny, hard to eat without juice loss, and impractical for sharing. 12 Number fruit hits the optimal balance: large enough to portion and slice, small enough to retain the variety's signature intensity.
The flavor concentration trade-off
| Factor | Standard Anwar Ratol | 12 Number |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor per gram | Highest | Slightly less per gram, but more usable fruit |
| Practical eating | Tiny — eat in 2 bites, juice loss | Manageable — slice or eat by hand |
| Cost per kg | Lower | Higher (premium tier) |
| Visual appeal in gift box | Modest | Better — slightly larger, more presentable |
| Seed-to-flesh ratio | Lower | Higher (more flesh proportionally) |
| Best for | Connoisseur tasting, "popping" by hand | Gifting, sharing, sliced presentation |
Which should you order?
Order 12 Number if you...
- Are buying for someone else (gift, corporate, wedding)
- Want to slice and serve at a meal
- Prefer larger individual fruit
- Don't want to deal with juice running down your wrist
- Are new to Anwar Ratol — easier introduction
Order standard Anwar Ratol if you...
- Want maximum flavor intensity per bite
- Eat your mangoes by hand (Pakistani-style squeeze-and-suck)
- Are budget-conscious — standard grade is cheaper per kg
- Are a true Anwar Ratol aficionado who prefers the smallest, most concentrated fruit
What we ship at MMangoes
Our Multani Anwar Ratol Premium Box uses the 12 Number cultivar. We chose this tier because:
- Better gifting potential — larger fruit looks more impressive in a box
- Easier customer experience — newcomers to Anwar Ratol find 12 Number more approachable
- Improved transit durability — slightly thicker skin at this size grade, fewer bruise incidents
- Higher flesh-to-seed ratio — more usable fruit per box, better value perception
If you specifically want standard 16/20 Number Anwar Ratol, you'll find it at retail markets in Pakistan during late July through August. We don't ship that grade direct.
How the 12 Number grade was standardized
The packing-number convention dates to the British colonial export trade in the early 1900s. Pakistani mango exporters needed a standardized way to describe fruit grades for international buyers — the per-kilogram count was easy to communicate and verify. The convention stuck domestically as well.
Today, the 12 Number specification is enforced by the Pakistani export quality framework: buyers paying premium prices for "12 Number Ratol" expect fruit averaging 80–85g, with allowances of ±10% per fruit. Boxes that don't meet the spec get downgraded.
Pricing — what the premium actually costs
In Pakistani retail markets during the 2025 season, the price differential was approximately:
- Standard Anwar Ratol (16/20 Number): Rs 400–550 per kg retail
- 12 Number Anwar Ratol: Rs 600–800 per kg retail
- Export-grade 10 Number: Rs 1,000+ per kg (rarely seen domestically)
Our farm-direct pricing for the 2026 season is Rs 3,150 for the 5kg box of 12 Number — works out to Rs 630 per kg, in line with mid-range retail but with the quality, freshness, and traceability of farm-direct delivery.
FAQs about Anwar Ratol grades
Are 12 Number and Anwar Ratol two different mangoes?
No — same variety. 12 Number is a size/grade designation within the Anwar Ratol family.
Which is sweeter — 12 Number or standard Anwar Ratol?
Slightly different. Standard has higher flavor intensity per gram; 12 Number has marginally lower per-gram concentration but more usable fruit. Both taste like Anwar Ratol.
Why doesn't 10 Number exist commonly?
The genetics of Anwar Ratol naturally produce small fruit. Trees occasionally yield 100g+ individual fruits, but not consistently enough to package commercially. The rare 10 Number boxes go to export at premium prices.
Is 12 Number the same as Honey Ratol?
No — "Honey Ratol" is sometimes used colloquially to describe ripe Anwar Ratol but isn't a separate variety. 12 Number is a size grade; the variety is still Anwar Ratol.
Can I tell 12 Number from standard at the fruit shop?
Look at the average fruit size in the basket. Standard Anwar Ratol is roughly the size of a small apricot or large lemon. 12 Number is closer to a small apple or medium-large lemon. The difference is visible side by side.
Why are these called "Anwar" Ratol?
"Anwar" refers to the original grower (likely a 19th-century cultivator in Ratol village). "Ratol" is the village name in modern Baghpat district, India.
Order direct from a Multan family farm
Every variety on this page can be ordered fresh from our 2026 harvest. Hand-picked from our orchards in Pir Khursheed Colony, naturally ripened (zero calcium carbide), cold-chain shipped Pakistan-wide.
— The Malik family
1636/13-A, Pir Khursheed Colony, Multan, 66000, Pakistan