What is a Mangosteen Fruit and Where Can I Find it?

Mangosteen trees are tall, pyramid-shaped trees that probably originated in Southeast Asia. They are grown in Asia, India, Africa and some areas in Central and South America. Mangosteen fruit trees are ultra-tropical trees. They do not tolerate cold at all. Temperatures below 45°F will kill tender young trees.

These trees are difficult to grow since they are so picky about growing conditions. They like lots of humidity and rain, but don't like the soil to be too wet. They don't like cold, or high elevations, or salt air, or sandy or silt soil. They prefer to grow in Asia and Africa, below 200° latitude, in rain forest conditions, away from the coast, and in rich, loamy soil.

When the trees are about ten years old, they begin to produce mangosteen fruit. The fruits are small (1-3 inches) and purple. The top of the fruit has a small rosette-shaped blossom remnant with 4-8 triangular segments.

Mangosteen fruits have two parts: the white center fruit, and the purple outer hull. The white center fruit is divided into segments, and there is one segment for each triangle in the blossom remnant. The white part of the fruit is prized for its flavor. Some people feel that it is the most delicious fruit in the world.

The outer rind of the mangosteen fruit is thick and purple. It contains bitter latex, and the purple juice is a permanent dye. This outer rind is also the richest source of healthful xanthones in the world. Mangosteen fruit has over 40 different xanthones.

Where Can I Get a Mangosteen Fruit?

You can get mangosteen fruit where it is grown. Occasionally, the fruit is shipped and can be purchased at local stores. Mangosteen fruit is pretty picky about shipping conditions too, though.

The best way to get the benefits of mangosteen fruit is to drink mangosteen juice. You get more benefit from mangosteen juice, because the juice is made from the whole fruit, not just the center part.

Your local health food, whole food or import food store may carry mangosteen juice. It may be hard to find in a regular store, though. Mangosteen fruit juice is available all over the world from independent distributors. Whether from a store, or from an independent distributor, you owe it to yourself to try mangosteen fruit juice.

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