Have you ever seen a mangosteen and wondered how you are supposed to eat it?
With its thick purple rind and unusual appearance, mangosteen can look a little intimidating the first time you see one. But inside is a completely different story!
Hidden beneath the purple shell are beautiful white segments of soft, juicy, sweet tropical fruit.
In our latest video, we’re showing you exactly how to open and eat a mangosteen. See how you open it here
What Is a Mangosteen?
Mangosteen, scientifically known as Garcinia mangostana, is a tropical fruit famous for its beautiful purple exterior and delicate white flesh.
It has been enjoyed throughout tropical regions of Southeast Asia for generations and has become a favorite among tropical fruit lovers around the world.
The outside is thick and purple when ripe, while the inside contains several white segments of edible fruit.
And that contrast is part of what makes mangosteen so much fun!
What Does Mangosteen Taste Like?
Mangosteen has a flavor that is difficult to compare to just one fruit.
The white flesh is:
- Sweet
- Juicy
- Soft
- Slightly tangy
- Refreshing
- Very tropical
People often compare the flavor to a combination of fruits such as peach, citrus, pineapple, lychee, and strawberry.
The best way to understand the flavor, though, is to try one!
How to Eat a Mangosteen
Once you know the trick, opening a mangosteen is easy.
Step 1: Wash the Fruit
Start by rinsing the outside of the mangosteen.
Even though you aren’t eating the outer rind, it’s always a good idea to wash fresh fruit before opening it.
Step 2: Open the Rind
Mangosteen has a thick outer rind. Depending on how ripe and soft the fruit is, you can gently press around the middle with your thumbs until the rind begins to separate.
You can also carefully score around the fruit with a knife.
Be careful not to cut deeply into the white flesh inside.
Step 3: Remove the Purple Shell
Once the rind opens, pull the purple shell apart.
Inside you’ll find beautiful white segments of fruit.
Step 4: Enjoy the White Fruit
The white flesh is the part you eat.
Simply remove the segments and enjoy them fresh.
Some segments may contain a seed. Remove the seed rather than chewing and swallowing it.
The thick purple outer rind is generally not eaten fresh. It can be dehydrated and ground up into a nutritious tea.
Is Mangosteen Nutritious?
Yes!
Mangosteen is a whole fruit that provides a variety of nutrients. Nutritional values can vary depending on the fruit and source, but mangosteen provides dietary fiber and smaller amounts of nutrients including vitamin C, thiamine, folate, potassium, magnesium, and manganese.
Mangosteen also contains naturally occurring plant compounds called xanthones, particularly in the rind. Xanthones are a type of polyphenolic compound that has been studied for antioxidant and other biological activity. However, research on concentrated extracts and isolated compounds should not be confused with proven health effects from simply eating the fruit.
Dietary Fiber
The edible flesh provides dietary fiber, which is an important part of a healthy diet and supports normal digestive function.
Vitamin C
Mangosteen contains vitamin C, an antioxidant nutrient that helps support normal immune function and protects cells from oxidative stress.
Minerals
Mangosteen provides minerals including potassium, magnesium, and manganese.
Plant Compounds
Mangosteen is particularly interesting because it contains naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds called xanthones.
This is one reason mangosteen has attracted so much scientific interest. However, it’s important to separate scientific research on mangosteen extracts and individual compounds from what has actually been demonstrated from eating fresh mangosteen.
In other words, enjoy the fruit because it’s delicious and nutritious—not because someone on the internet promised it will cure a disease!
How Many Calories Are in Mangosteen?
Mangosteen is primarily water and carbohydrates, with relatively little fat and protein. Published nutritional data puts fresh mangosteen at roughly 70–75 calories per 100 grams of edible fruit, although nutritional values can vary.
Ways to Enjoy Mangosteen
Fresh mangosteen is hard to beat!
You can also enjoy the edible flesh:
- Chilled straight from the refrigerator
- In a tropical fruit salad
- In smoothies
- Alongside other tropical fruits
- Over yogurt
- In frozen desserts
- As a topping for fruit bowls
Mangosteen pairs especially well with other tropical flavors.
A Few Things to Remember
The most important thing when eating mangosteen is knowing what part you’re eating.
Eat the white flesh.
Remove any seeds you encounter.
The thick purple rind is not normally eaten fresh.
And be careful when opening the fruit because the purple rind can stain.
Discover More Tropical Fruit With Us
At Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm, we love introducing people to tropical fruits they may have never tasted before.
Mangosteen is just one of the many unusual and delicious fruits that can be discovered through the world of tropical fruit.
We’re located in Naples, Florida, and we’re open to the public.
Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm
1255 Dove Tree St.
Naples, FL 34117
Open to the Public:
Tuesday • Wednesday • Thursday
1 PM – 5 PM
For more information about our farm, tropical fruit, products, and what we’re currently offering:
LoveTropicalFruit.com
And if you haven’t already watched it, check out our other video on How to Eat a Sugar Apple!
There are so many tropical fruits to discover—and half the fun is learning how to eat them.
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