Hint: It's not a mango.

The mangosteen fruit (or Garcinia mangostana, as it is known scientifically) is exotic, delicious and packed full of xanthones and other phytonutrients .

It is also:

• found mainly in Southeast Asia and other tropical regions
• roughly the size of a tangerine—about 5-8 centimeters in diameter
• often called the Queen of Fruits (Queen Victoria gave knighthood to anyone who brought it to her)
• has a bitter, purplish rind full of xanthones and other phytonutrients
• has a beautiful, white pulp with 4-8 segments of pure taste-bud bliss

Although the mangosteen has been touted for its splendid flavor, it has also been suggested that use of the whole mangosteen fruit can promote wellness.

The mangosteen rind was sliced and dried, then ground to a powder and administered as an herbal preparation. The mangosteen rind was steeped in water overnight and taken as a tea. The mangosteen rind was made in to an ointment and applied externally as a lotion.

It was through these popular uses that the benefits of mangosteen were passed down through history and several scientists and explorers took note.

When Europeans explored Southeast Asia folklore related to the mangosteen first spread to Western culture.

However, it was not until XanGo launched XanGo® Juice in 2002 that mangosteen began to achieve widespread recognition and acceptance in Western markets, such as the US, Canada and Western Europe.

A Little about the Tree

The small dark purple fruit grows abundantly and is harvested twice a year from a small evergreen tree.

The mangosteen tree is actually in the same plant family as St. John's Wort, a recognized herbal supplement.  

• short, thick and leathery evergreen leaves
• grows 7-25 meters tall
• first fruit harvest takes place 10-20 years after planting
• average lifetime yield of full-grown tree is 500
• some trees provide ripe mangosteen fruit up to 100 years

The mangosteen tree is "ultra-tropical" and cannot tolerate temperatures below 40°F or above 100°F. All attempts to grow the trees in locations north of 20° latitude have failed.