THAILAND'S TOP-FIVE IN FRESH FRUIT EXPORTS

Native to Southeast Asia, mangosteens are thought to have originated in the neighboring Malayan peninsula.

A delicately-flavored exotic tropical fruit with a refreshing tangy taste, the mangosteen – ‘queen of tropical fruits’, is an extremely popular dessert fruit among Thais as well as expatriate residents.

Small and round, its thick, dark purple shell, with its cluster of dark green leaf stalks just below the stem, is easily dented when ripe. This thick shell is slit around the middle with a knife and the upper shell removed to reveal five or more segments of soft and juicy white flesh that is delightfully sweet and slightly tangy. The flesh is readily removed with a fork and eaten.

Mangosteens are a rich source of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

The ‘queen of tropical fruits’ is noted for its remarkable cooling properties and has been used as a folk remedy for centuries. Considered the perfect match for durian – the ‘king of Thai fruits’, having a few mangosteens following a feast of durian helps prevent maladies related to an over-indulgence of durian.

Mangosteen pith is removed and boiled in water to make a medicinal tea for treating diarrhoea. The outer skin is rich in tannin and xanthone antioxidants, used to treat pimples and wounds on the skin.