Purple mangosteen is the best-known (to most) of the many kinds of mangosteens that are consumed by humans. A few other species of Garcinia are exported from their country of origin, but most species are harvested and eaten locally. My treat yesterday was to sample purple mangosteen for the first time.
This plant species has a long and storied history (this link goes to a site by Ian Crown, who also gathered most of the quotes about the fruit below). Native to southeast Asia, purple mangosteen has also been cultivated in that area since ancient times. After distribution by European explorers and traders (presumably surviving en route via Wardian cases), the species has also been cultivated in other tropical areas of the world like Central America, the Caribbean islands, and tropical South America. Southeast Asia remains the world’s largest producer by far.
Purple mangosteen is rated as one of the most delicious fruits. Others have described their experiences with it:
No other fruit, for me, is so thrillingly, intoxicatingly luscious…I’d rather eat one than a hot fudge sundae, which for a big Ohio boy is saying a lot.
– R. W. Apple Jr., former associate editor at The New York Times
When ripe the fruit is as delicate and agreeably sweet as the finest lansehs 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.
– Dutch governor Georgius Everhardus Rumphius
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
– Swedish zoologist Eric Mjöberg
On the flavour and texture, I find myself agreeing with Italian naturalist Odoardo Beccari, who wrote:
…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.
Until the last decade or so, it was almost impossible to find purple mangosteen in US markets (in Canada, it is rare; in Australia, it is described as “available”; please share in the comments about other parts of the world). Fruits do not ripen post-harvest (i.e., they are not climacteric), so must be picked, shipped, distributed, sold, and consumed within a week or two. Another concern for the US market is the potential import of pests like spotted wing drosophila (SWD) from Asia, so the fruits have to be irradiated–an added expense to an already expensive fruit. Around 2007, Thailand began to irradiate its exported crops, so the fruits started appearing in select US markets (however, SWD is also now established in many fruit-growing regions of North America). One of the few (or the only?) importers of non-irradiated purple mangosteen into US markets was the aforementioned Ian Crown. A frequent BPotD contributor and commenter, Ian is also the owner of the Puerto Rico-based Panoramic Fruits.
To read about Ian’s journey with mangosteens (and much additional information about the fruit and plants), start with this 2006 New York Times interview: “Forbidden? Not the Mangosteen“. Ten years later, Ian was interviewed by National Geographic, “Meet the Mangosteen“. Perhaps Ian will comment, but it seems from the latest update on his company’s site that his dream of a tropical fruits farm is over, due to Hurricane Maria. You can read his letter here: November 30, 2017 – Hurricane Maria. I think I know Ian well enough from our correspondences to share part of his letter (but do read the rest),
I am writing to say that I lost most of my farm; high percentages of fruit trees like rambutan and durian and mangosteen were either blown over or blown away without a trace. Some of the trees blown over might have been saved but the farm was not accessible for days and my people had one objective; take care of their own needs first. This is how it should be. My farm is blessed with a very old cistern that has been providing potable water for a very long time and it became a critical resource for many. Any and all who could get to this cistern were welcomed, this is what water is for if you have any-sharing.
Ian, I am sorry for the loss of your farm. I hope that some silver lining has been or can be found, for you, those you employed, and their families.
Mangosteens grow in Hawaii and are available at farmers markets and a few stores seasonally. The first time I tasted one I said this is better than sex!
Heh, that’s quite the comparison. I see the season at the Hilo Farmer’s Market is September-December.
Thank you for sharing Ian’s website. Living on a tropical Island and having narrowly missed being hit head on by hurricane Iwa and Iniki it is sobering to read his web updates and to realize that all of his hard work and beautiful trees were wiped out in one horrible morning. I have lived on the same property for 26 years and have developed relationships with all of the trees, shrubs and beach front plantings. Some may think me crazy, but I love my plants and I know on a cellular level they have been watching me too.
Today, at Sunset Beach, the City is cutting down several Date palms, because of coastal erosion. They are leaving the roots and lower section of the palm tree in place to help hold in the sand. The top portions are being removed in case the palm topples over as they are close to the bike path and highway. A sad day for Sunset Beach, Oahu. A sad day for Parkland, Florida.
There are so many tragedies these days, big and small. I know that people often use BPotD as a bit of a psychological escape based on comments and the emails I receive. I’m happy that it provides that for many, but I also hope it inspires readers to support people, organizations, and research programs that work in whatever manner to preserve the beauty and wonder of plants and the natural world for future generations.
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
Great piece!
Here in Kerala, India, (where I live), mangosteens are almost a local cultivar. It is an expensive fruit, however. As reported, it is one of the most spectacular fruits in terms of its delicate flavour.
Two other Garcinia species are traditionally consumed in this part of the world: Garcinia indica (kokum, which is used for making a purple-red syrup used as a beverage, and also for cooking), and Garcinia cambogia (whose rind is smoked and used as a souring agent in curries). Both these garcinias are associated with weight losses, for some reason.
Thanks Satish!
Well after Daniel‘s beautiful comment above I cannot find a thing to add to that sentiment except for, Hear, Hear!
On the subject of mangosteen availability in other regions I can say however, that here in Germany and also in Switzerland one can find mangosteens fairly regularly in everyday grocery stores. Every time I buy them the cashier has to stop and ask what they are and look up their price code in a special pamphlet. I often wonder who else is buying these fruits but I am grateful that they are provided and do my best to encourage a steady supply!
Thanks Wendy, I was wondering about its availability in Europe.
There is a large fruiting mangosteen in south Florida on the estate of Bill Whitman who passed away in 2007. This is the only tree that fruits in continental USA. I have been priviledged to visit the tree (and the rest of his tropical fruit collection) but never at a time the mangosteen was fruiting.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/04whitman.html
Thanks Erica, an interesting gentleman to be sure.
Spotted Wing Drosophila has made it to East Anglia in England & is a worry. I found it in our garden in Norfolk. We hang up an empty Coke bottle (plenty thrown away on the verges) with holes punched in it & cider vinegar plus a few drops of washing up liquid inside. After a week, there were a number inside. The project is coordinated by Dr Chris Thomas at Cambridge. Didn’t find any mangosteens unfortunately.
Mangosteens have been availble in Northern England for at least 25 years. We have many Chinese, South and South East Asian grocers so exotic fruit is easily available. The big supermarkets often try to compete by getting the exotic fruit as well.
The taste of mangosteens is superb and I found it fun cracking through the hard, dark-purple rind to get to the flesh. The mild acidity gives the juice the feeling of being effervescent.
Well, I still have most of my hair. More or less.
Down but not yet dead. I have been trying to work with the USDA and am getting either no news or, bad news. I am still trying to save this farm. My people still have no electricity and only intermittent water. I am luckier than many and have not given up quite yet.
A hurricane corridor and increased weather volatility have not been my friends but, we will see. My thanks to all.
So sad to hear that is all no news or bad news, Ian.
Spotted Wing Drosophila is definitely in the California San Francisco Bay Area. Showed up in my back yard in 2014. I contacted Vector Control and they said they were aware that it had made its way this far north.
We had to remove our cherry tree because the fly made tiny pin prick holes in every cherry to lay eggs. I couldn’t find one that wasn’t ruined. If picked soon after, the cherries would not “keep” due to the holes and if you waited, you’d see the larvae coming out. After a couple of years of never being able to eat any cherries, we gave up and removed the tree. Causes some damage to apples too, but not as bad, and they did not seem to take to our raspberries, so that was good. Our winters have been warmer, so I guess it is here to stay.
Daniel, I reread your comments on the mangosteen, but did not see what you thought of the fruit after sampling it…
Katherine, I mentioned i agreed with Beccari. SWD is a problem in our fruit-growing region, too.
Do vinegar traps not work with the SWD? It works well as a control of Drosophila melanogaster.
Yes, these can work. I don’t have a sense of how many would be needed and if they are viable for large orchards.
en Colombia se cultiva tradicionalmente en Mariquita en tierra caliente ahora en febrero tenemos cosecha. es caro
Thanks Vicente, I did not find a reference to it growing in Colombia while researching.
is this perhaps what the Puerto ricans call “ganapay” and they say is out of this world?
Chris, I think that is Genipa americana, which is known as genipa in Puerto Rico and guanapay by indigenous peoples of Colombia.