Mangosteen: Queen of Fruits

Although almost unheard of in the temperate zones of North America and Europe, mangosteen is so prized by inhabitants of tropical rain forests that it is universally known as the Queen of Fruits and the Fruit of the Gods.

About the size of a tangerine, the ripe mangosteen has a smooth, dark purple rind encasing snow-white fruit. Unlike other tropical fruits that are so unusual and obscure that eating them requires an “acquired taste,” mangosteen has a sweet, mild flavor that appeals to everyone, beginning with the first bite.
Limited to tropical zones with abundant rainfall, the mangosteen tree takes 10 years to mature and bear fruit. Fully mature trees can be up to 80 feet tall, and may produce thousands of individual fruits each year.

In Southeast Asia, where the mangosteen is predominantly grown, the people value this exceptional fruit for its premium taste and heavenly flavor. In fact, when Queen Victoria tasted this imported delicacy in the mid-1800s, she promptly declared it her favorite fruit.

Although readily available in season throughout Southeast Asia, until now the mangosteen fruit in its whole form has never been commercially available in North America.
 

A Family of Powerful Phytonutrients

While most people know about the antioxidant benefits of Vitamins C and E, far fewer are aware of the incredibly potent antioxidant power of xanthones. Xanthones are natural chemical substances that have recently won high praise from numerous scientists and researchers. Xanthones have been studied for their medicinal potential, since they demonstrate a number of pharmaceutical properties:

- Supports microbiological balance
- Maintains immune system health
- Promotes joint flexibility
- Provides positive mental support

What’s remarkable is that the mangosteen—not just the inner flesh, but the whole fruit—represents the single greatest known supply of these tremendously beneficial xanthones. The pericarp, or rind, of the mangosteen is particularly rich in xanthones, which represent the next generation of powerful phytonutrients; phytonutrients that will change the future of dietary supplements.