Combine the diced mango, granulated sugar, and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar fully dissolves—this takes about 5-7 minutes. I've learned to watch for the sugar grains to completely vanish; rushing this step means grainy texture later, which defeats the purpose of this cozy mango sorbet homemade summer project.
Remove from heat and stir in the corn syrup until completely incorporated. The corn syrup is your insurance policy against ice crystals; it keeps the warm summer sorbet silky instead of crunchy. Let the mixture cool for 10 minutes at room temperature before moving forward.
Pour the cooled mixture into a blender, then add the fresh lemon juice, vanilla bean seeds, sea salt, fresh mint leaves, ground cardamom, and orange blossom water. Blend until completely smooth—aim for 60-90 seconds. I taste right here and adjust lemon juice if the sweetness overwhelms; trust your palate because mangoes vary in natural sugar.
Strain the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing gently on solids to extract every drop of liquid. This step removes the fibrous bits and guarantees silky texture in your finished cozy tropical treat. The strained liquid should measure roughly 3 cups.
Stir in the coconut milk until fully combined. This is where you make your final call on richness; if you want it lighter, use less. I always add the full amount because the coconut milk doesn't overpower—it whispers underneath the cardamom warmth.
Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to your machine's instructions—typically 20-25 minutes. I watch it progress from liquid to soft-serve consistency, which signals completion. Transfer immediately to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 3-4 hours until firm enough to scoop without collapsing.
If you don't own an ice cream maker, pour the mixture into a shallow baking dish and freeze for 1 hour. Scrape with a fork to break up ice crystals, then return to freeze. Repeat this scraping every 30 minutes for 2-3 hours total until you reach sorbet texture. It's labor-intensive but works—I've done it when traveling and my machine stayed home.