Mangosteen
Garcinia
mangostana
A
branch of mangosteen painted by Dr. M.J. Dijkman
; Mangosteen
cartoon character
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, author of "Forest life and
adventures in the Malay Archipelago" 1930
One of the most praised of tropical
fruits, and certainly the most esteemed fruit in the
family Guttiferae, the mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana
L., is almost universally known or heard of by this
name.
---Julia F. Morton, tropical fruit researcher, author
of "Fruits of warm climates" 1987
The mangosteen is the Queen of
Tropical Fruit.
--David Fairchild, plant hunter and author "Exploring
for Plants, 1930.
In his extensive travels around the
world Fairchild had ample opportunity to try just
about every fruit imaginable in dozens of countries
both tropical and temperate. His conclusion was that
of all the fruits he tasted, the one that earned his
highest praise was the mangosteen.
Image
source
The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)
is a tropical evergreen tree, believed to have originated
in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. The tree grows
from 7 to 25 meters tall. The rind (pericarp) of the
edible fruit is deep reddish purple when ripe. The
fragrant flesh is sweet and creamy, citrusy with some
peach flavor.
Learn more about mangosteen cultivation
here.
To select the best table fruits,
choose those with the highest number of stigma lobes
at the apex, for these have the highest number of
fleshy segments and accordingly the fewest seeds.
The numbers always correspond. Mangosteens are usually
eaten fresh as dessert. One need only hold the fruit
with the stem-end downward, take a sharp knife and
cut around the middle completely through the rind,
and lift off the top half, which leaves the fleshy
segments exposed in the colorful "cup"–the
bottom half of the rind. The segments are lifted out
by fork. (source)
Since 2004, mangosteen has been included
among an emerging category of novel functional foods
sometimes called "superfruits" presumed
to have a combination of 1) appealing subjective qualities,
such as taste, fragrance and visual appeal, 2) nutrient
richness, 3. antioxidant strength and 4. potential
impact for lowering risk against human diseases. (source)
Is
Mangosteen A Superfruit? Nutrient and Antioxidant
Properties
Learn more at Mangosteen.com
Image
source
When ripe the fruit is as delicate
and agreeably sweet as the finest lansehs (another
famous Malay fruit tree, of which a variety called
the Duku is the domesticated representation which
ought next to engage the attention of the wealthy)
and may even be mistaken for ripe grapes. It is at
the same time so juicy, that many people can never
eat enough of it, so delicious is its fragrance and
agreeable its sweetness; and it is believed that the
sick, when appetite or the power of eating has wholly
gone, are nevertheless delighted with this fruit;
or at least if they will not take to Mangosteens their
case is indeed hopeless.
--Georgius Everhardus Rumphius
(1628-1702) Dutch governor of Indonesia
USA
set to start importing fresh mangosteens
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