One unlikely victim of Covid-19 has been the small unripe mangoes imported by wholesale businesses mainly of Indian origin. There have been fewer flights to India, Kenya and the South American countries that produce them. But we have found nine boxes in a Western International Market wholesaler so we can restart production and get the tasty sauce back on our market stalls and into jars as a Christmas treat. Amba is eaten with falafel in Iraq, Syria and Israel, but really looks like an Indian pickle. It seems to have travelled from India to Iraq either through the Jewish communities in both countries or because both Iraq (‘Mesopatamia’) and India were under British control. Here is an Israeli view. Our version includes nigella seeds and mustard seeds and has a loyal following.