Contrary to common belief, mangosteen fruit is not related to the mango.
Its botanical name is Garcinia mangostana and if you’ve never heard of or tasted mangosteen fruit, you’re in for a taste treat.
The mangosteen is primarily grown in Southeast Asia. This exotic fruit is pretty, absolutely delicious, and packed full of xanthones and other phytonutrients that have shown some very impressive health benefits.
Mangosteen is…
- found mainly in Southeast Asia and other tropical regions
- roughly the size of a tangerine—about 2-3 inches in diameter
- often called the Queen of Fruits (Queen Victoria gave knighthood to anyone who brought it to her)
- has a bitter, purplish rind packed with xanthones and other phytonutrients
- has a beautiful, white pulp with 4-8 segments of pure taste-bud bliss
Although the mangosteen has been touted for its incredibly delicious flavor, it has also been suggested that use of the whole mangosteen fruit can promote good health.
In fact, the whole mangosteen fruit — especially the xanthone-packed rind — has been used to treat a variety of health conditions for centuries. As early as 600 AD, scribes in Southeast Asia recorded the use of the mangosteen as a general remedy and healing agent.
Healers sliced and dried the rind of the mangosteen, then ground it into a powder and administered it as an herbal preparation. The mangosteen rind was also steeped in water overnight and taken as a tea. Yet another use of the mangosteen rind was to make an ointment and apply it externally as a lotion.
It was through these popular uses that the benefits of mangosteen were passed down through generations and several scientists and explorers took note.
When Europeans explored Southeast Asia, folklore related to the mangosteen began to spread to Western culture.
Now this delicious and beneficial fruit can be found in a healthful beverage called XanGo® Juice!
How Does Mangosteen Grow?
The fruit grows on small evergreen trees, and Mangosteen farmers harvest bi-annually. The tree is in the same plant family as St. John’s Wart, a common herbal supplement.
The mangosteen tree is…
- short, thick and leathery evergreen leaves
- grows 20-80 feet tall
- first fruit harvest takes place 10-20 years after planting
- average lifetime yield of full-grown tree is 500
- some trees provide ripe mangosteen fruit up to 100 years
Because the mangosteen tree can’t tolerate temperatures below 40°F or above 100°F, it only grows in tropical climates.
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