MANGOSTEEN

Mangosteen fruit (Garcinia mangostana), often referred to as "the Queen" of tropical fruit in its native Southeast Asia, grows on a tropical evergreen tree that can grow up to 85 ft tall. The fruits are small, round, pale green-white when unripe, and deep purple when ripe. The tough outer rind encloses a white, soft, juicy flesh that is divided into triangular segments. This exotic fruit has a sweet, mildly-tangy, fragrant and delicious flavor, with notes of strawberry, peach and creamy vanilla.

Mangosteen fruit is rich in dietary fiber, especially pectin, and is high in the bioactive polyphenolic compounds, xanthones, which are found in its white pulp, and in even higher concentrations in its pericarp. The pericarp also contains catechins, polysaccharides and stilbenes. Mangosteen is also a very good source of carotenoids, like cryptoxanthin, and a good source of vitamin C, a well as containing moderate amount of B-complex vitamins, copper, manganese, magnesium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, and potassium.