One touch of a mangosteen segment to your lips, and you will understand what manna tasted like.After you carefully cut an opening into its thick, fibrous rind, you will find a supple treasure within this tropical fruit. A mangosteen is divided into segments, just like a tangerine, and has one (or two) medium-sized seeds inside each segment. The fruit flesh of a mangosteen will melt on your tongue, releasing its abundant, honeyed juices in a flood of deliciousness. The flavor of a mangosteen is subtle, and less concentrated than a dragon eye (longan fruit). I would say that its texture and taste is almost like a cross between a juice-filled loquat or lychee, and with the finish of a soft, ripe (but not overripe) banana or a very ripe and non-gritty pear.
Confusing enough?
If I had to compare a mangosteen to our everyday fruits as available in the local produce market, I would say, imagine a slickly lubricious, non-fibrous, and incredibly juicy citrus fruit with a soft, melt-in-your-mouth banana-like interior. But way, way better.I hope that "the Mangosteen" has encouraged you to be more adventurous at your local farmers market or while inspecting the exotic area of your supermarket's produce section. You never know what treasure you will find there.
Oh my god, that looks and sounds so good. But where on earth could I find one in Richmond, VA? At an ethnic grocer, maybe?
ReplyDeleteWell, you got me on that one. I have never heard of a mangosteen before. (for that matter, neither has my spellchecker thingy. It insist it is wrong and suggests 'Springsteen' is what I may be looking for! Too funny.)
ReplyDeleteIf Janine thinks she's going to have trouble getting one in Richmond, VA...same/same for deepest darkest South Oxfordshire!
You make them sound quite sensual, real honeymooner's food Mrs.PE!
that looks really good. I love loquats + am wondering if that's anything like a lychee?
ReplyDeleteHav not run into any here - its a beautiful looking frut tho!
Your descriptions have got my mouth watering for a mangosteen. I didn't know they're still around? Where did you find yours and were they pretty expensive? I have to say, it has to be really good to surpass the taste of a really fresh and chilled lychee. Probably my all-time favorite fruit.
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty expensive and hard to come by in non-humid areas. I have never seen this before actually, until I moved over here to New Orleans. I think that my mangosteen was exported though. I hope you all can find some, and I will look out for any preserved (perhaps) canned varieties, and let you know Janine, Melinda, Taste Memory and Chef Ben. I missed you all and can't wait to catch up with all of your blogs soon!
ReplyDeletei live in malaysia & right now,mangosteens,rambutans&durians are everywhere at the market..
ReplyDeleteand i can say with confidence that I can eat more than 20 of mangosteens at a time& not get a stomachache!
Durian is good too& i love em,being a Malaysian & all but it's an acquired taste for people who are not accustomed to the smell..:)
oh mangosteens! i've never found one here in SoCal, it's criminal.
ReplyDeleteI actually just found this post by Nosheteria, which describes a mangosteen as feeling like a "peeled grape" in your mouth. What an apt description!
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous Liyana! And thanks for stopping by Sweet T!
ReplyDeleteHi, where did you get this?? We heve been looking for a food shoot and can't seem to find them. Thanks
ReplyDeleteYou might want to check out a local Southeast Asian specialty market in your area Jennifer Carden. Don't go to the generic "Asian" markets, like Ranch 99 or any other Chinese or Japanese places. You need to go to a Southeast Asian market. That is where I got these from. Also, did you try calling Berkeley Bowl or Monterey Market? Sometimes, they get some great exotic fruits, but you have to act fast.
ReplyDeleteThis is without a doubt my favourite fruit. I just love how peachy, creamy and wonderfully sweet this fruit it. You just have to have it to believe it. Very, very enticing photograph!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get that? I've seen plenty of canned mangosteens in the asian supermarket. Are they even worth eating?
ReplyDeleteYes GillsnThrills, they are totally worth it to try (though they are expensive)! I got it at Dong Khang market in Harvey.
ReplyDeleteThanks Coco! And I love your very appropriate and fitting adjectives!
ReplyDeleteI just love how peachy, creamy and wonderfully sweet this fruit it. You just have to have it to believe it.
ReplyDeleteWow that's an interesting looking fruit. As weird as it looks, it looks really delicious.
ReplyDeletei hear that mangosteens don't have much nutritional value, but oh my goodness they are so delicious! they're very rare here in australia, but are available during summer!
ReplyDeletei don't care much for nutritional value!!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a mangosteen before.
ReplyDeleteIn Indonesia, they come in season. We call them 'manggis'
ReplyDeleteI was born in Southeast Asia; mangosteen is plentiful during its season and a very delicious fruit.
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteI would like to request permission to use the image of the mangosteen from this post. I will give credit to your site when it's posted up ( I need to use it for a brand's facebook page that i'm managing.
Do let me know, thanks!
YC