Decorating vines and bushes, mangosteen berries need a warm enough climate to grow. This is why the preferred weather conditions for mangosteen trees are often seen in locations such as South East Asia, Thailand and Myanmar.
The Berry
The mangosteen fruit is native to tropical Malaysia, where it grows on a small tree belonging to the garcinia family. The leaves surrounding the berries are described as evergreen and leathery.
The outside of the berry is tough to the touch with a leathery rind that protects the white, fleshy insides of the fruit. Once the berry is peeled, a sweet scent greets your nose.
Eventually, divided parts of the fruit reveal seed-bearing sections bursting forth with juice. Each section of the berry offers its own seed with a white protective layer, which is responsible for the seeding of future trees.
Harvesting Mangosteen Berries
When it comes time to pick the mangosteen berry, the locals often wait until the middle of the summer season. During this time of the year, the berries become ripe and start to drop to the ground.
When the first berry falls to the earth, those familiar with this piece of fruit know that this is the best moment to harvest the mangosteen.
The shelf life for the mangosteen berry is rather short, which explains the reason why locals race to pick the berry after the first fruits have fallen. Unfortunately, the berries have a reputation for becoming spoiled within a couple of days.
This is why many quickly choose to create juice from the berries to store in the refrigerator for safekeeping. To further lengthen the shelf life of the berries, they have been known to still retain their taste and potency after freezing.
Some individuals believe that mangosteen berries will last longer if they are picked before ripening. Actually, immature berries will not produce the same flavor and intensity as ripe specimens.
In the United States, savoring the taste of fresh mangosteen berries is quite an expensive luxury.
Since the berries go bad in such a short amount of time, the frozen fruit has to be shipped, which can add up to a large amount of money when coming from destinations, such as Asia.
While the taste of the berries is pleasant, many people are more interested in exploring the benefits offered from their consumption.
Health Benefits of the Mangosteen Berry
The juice that comes from the mangosteen berry is known to provide the best source of xanthones on the market. This powerful antioxidant is often associated with improving the health of various body parts and functions, as well as boosting the immune system.
Since the mangosteen berry contains a wide range of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and bioflavonoids, an individual often sees many positive changes with their body and energy levels.
