Mangosteen Fruit
For centuries, the varied cultures and societies of Southeast Asia have revered the mangosteen. Although the mangosteen has been touted for its splendid 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 also been utilized traditionally to treat a variety of conditions. As early as 600 AD, scribes in Southeast Asia recorded the use of the mangosteen as an herbal preparation.
The early benefits of the mangosteen are both broad and convincing. Legend even has it that Queen Victoria offered knighthood to any subject who could bring her a mangosteen fruit in prime condition. Sadly, no one succeeded in delivering the mangosteen. According to the legend, the virtual impossibility of preserving the fruit during the weeks-long journey prohibited anyone outside of the growing regions from enjoying the sensational flavor of the mangosteen. But, some have suggested that, thanks to the Queen’s admirable quest, the fruit achieved the heralded title, “Queen of Fruits,” a name still used by mangosteen adorers around the globe.
The mangosteen fruit is known in the scientific/botanical world as Garcinia Mangostana L.—named after the French priest and explorer Laurentiers Garcin who studied and diagramed the mangosteen in 1693.
