If you’ve ever travelled to Southeast Asia or eaten the fruits of the region, it's likely you've been enticed by the ‘queen of tropical fruits’: otherwise known as mangosteen.
This prized round fruit, similar to a mandarin in size, has been celebrated across the world for centuries. According to British and Malaysian folklore, was so convinced of the fruit’s luxurious nature that she once promised to knight anyone who brought her mangosteen from Asia. No one was ever able to rise to the challenge.
Perhaps it was the promise of the fruit’s unusual appearance that attracted the famous queen? Mangosteens certainly do possess an exotic allure. They have a purple, leathery exterior and soft interior that’s composed of white segments. These small slices are filled with juice that balances tartness with a floral sweetness. has described the fruit's flavour as a mix of lychee, peach, strawberry and pineapple.
Recent studies suggest that mangosteen – when consumed as a beverage – is high in phytonutrients and antioxidants.
Originally from Malaysia and Sumatra, mangosteens are currently a dietary staple across Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Thailand. They also typically grow in Far North Queensland and around Darwin.
, people from these countries have used mangosteen peel to treat abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dysentery, and chronic ulcers. Mangosteens have also been medicinally consumed as fruit juice, and drunk to treat the same conditions.
suggest that mangosteen – when consumed as a beverage – is high in phytonutrients. It may possess strong anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-microbial and anti-malarial properties.
are also investigating the nutritional qualities of the fruit’s interior flesh, due to its rich . Xanthones may have potent properties that work to fight various cancer cells.
Accredited Practising Dietitian at , Preethika Nair, grew up in Malaysia eating fresh mangosteens regularly. She says although current research on mangosteen’s various health benefits is promising, there’s still a long way to go to substantiate the claims with wide-ranging evidence.
However, one thing that’s certain is the nutritional content of the fruit. “Mangosteens are quite high in antioxidants and very high, specifically, in vitamin C,” says Nair. “They have similar levels of vitamin C when compared to tomatoes and oranges.”
Why is vitamin C good for our health? Not only does vitamin C improve our immunity, it prevents iron deficiency. As an antioxidant, it also helps to protect our cells against the effects of free radicals. “Antioxidants interact with free radicals and neutralise them to prevent them from causing damage in the body.”
A cooling fruit
Nair says there’s also another major benefit to obtain from eating mangosteens.
“In Malaysia, people eat a lot of durian. It’s a fruit that heats your body. If you eat a lot of durian, the heating effects increase and you could experience side effects like a sore throat or swelling.”
On the other hand, she explains, mangosteens are regarded as a cooling fruit. “Eating mangosteens with durian helps to counteract durian’s heating effects. This is why it’s a cultural norm in Malaysia to always eat durian with mangosteen. It cools down your body and ensures you don’t experience any side effects.”
How to eat it
If you want to try mangosteen, it’s always best to first eat it fresh so you can better understand its flavour profile.
To cut mangosteen open, score the skin’s circumference with a knife. Twist the top off to remove half the shell and take the white segments out.
“You can eat mangosteen segments on their own. Or add them to mocktails, smoothies, sorbets, custards and jellies,” Nair explains.
Mangosteens last up to a couple of days when stored at room temperature. If you want to keep them for longer, they can go in the fridge for up to two weeks wrapped in newspaper (to avoid bruising).
“When you look at a fruit like mangosteen, it may appear to look a bit odd. Even as a person who grew up in Malaysia around this food, I was hesitant to try it the first time. But it is delicious. Once you try it mangosteen, you’ll really love it so give it a go.”
