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| Mangosteen |
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"...an abundant white, juicy pulp, soft, sweet, slightly
acidulated, and with a delicate, delicious flavour,
which recalls that of a fine peach, muscatel grapes,
and something peculiar and indescribable which no
other fruit has."
(Odoardo Beccari, 1843 – 1920,
Italian Naturalist, describing mangosteen)
"The mangosteen has only one fault; it is impossible
to eat enough of it, but, strictly speaking, perhaps that
is a defect in the eater rather than in the fruit…
It would be mere blasphemy to attempt to describe
its wonderful taste, the very culmination of culinary
art for any unspoilt palate."
(Eric Mjöberg, 1882 – 1932,
Swedish Zoologist, Echnographer and Explore) |
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| Basics |
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Mangosteen is a round shaped fruit with thick purple-red rind covering juicy white sweet pulp.
It is often called the “Queen of Fruits” in Asia for the alluring sweet taste and aromatic flavor.
Despite its name, it is no relative of the mango and has similar flavor to lychee and peach.
As an ultra tropical plant, mangosteen requires consistently warm environment to grow.
The growth period is long as the tree yields fruits at 6 to 8 years from planting. Because of the difficulties in growing, mangosteen remains rare outside tropical regions.
Mangosteen is an exotic fruit with limited
distribution as fresh fruit in the USA.
Mangosteen has recently attracted increasing attention as one of “super-fruits” for its potential health benefit and antioxidant effect by properties such as Xanthone contained in the rind of mangosteen.
Other super-fruits include pomegranate and acai. Mangosteen is also a good source of manganese that helpsantioxidant defense. |
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| History |
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Originating in Malay Archipelago, mangosteen has been widely cultivated and in great demand throughout Southeast Asia.
Mangosteen has historically been praised for many centuries by those who encountered it. There is even a legend that Queen Victoria offered a reward to anyone who could bring the fruit to her.
The edible interior is renowned for its indescribable
sweet-tart melting rush of flavors which had been
savored by visitors as well as locals.
The rind has also been part of Ayurvedic medicine
and has been valued throughout its native range
for its medicinal qualities. The rind possesses
complex organic chemicals such as tannic acid and
Xanthones. The fruit rind is ground and used in the
treatment of diarrhea and dysentery, and for skin
diseases. A tea made from the leaves and bark has
been used to lower fever and for urinary disorders. |
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| Enjoy Mangosteen! |
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The difficulty in satisfying stringent tropical cultural
requirements and the plant’s long growth period
kept the mangosteen a rare fruit outside the tropics.
Fresh mangosteen from Thailand was not available
in
the US until 2007. Now irradiated fresh mangosteen from Thailand are sold in high-end grocery stores and Asian markets. It has also been increasingly offered as fresh desert delicacy at high-end restaurants.
To enjoy fresh mangosteen, slice around the middle
of the fruit about halfway between the top and the petals.
Open the mangosteen into two segments. The white edible fruit appear in a cluster resembling to garlic cloves.
Check out a video and articles listed on this page for
more information about mangosteen.
Enjoy fresh mangosteen with Radee Mangosteen Ambrosia for truly special occasion or celebration.
It will be a heavenly treat!
Links to more information
New York Times, April 9, 2008,
“The Outlaw Glamour of a Long-Banned Fruit”
New York Times, August 9, 2006,
“Forbidden? Not the Mangosteen”
New York Times Video,
“Meet the Mangosteen” |
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| Sources: |
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Purdue University Center for New Crops & Plants Products
Wikipedia
Mangosteen.com
NPI Center |
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The copyrights / trademarks of all material provided on this Site belong to Radee Wine, Inc. Sacramento CA.
None of the material may be reproduced, copied, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form
without the prior written consent of Radee Wine, Inc. |
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