New favourite; Mangosteen

Mangosteen is native to South East Asia aka Bali where I have been for the past 2 weeks and is known as the Queen of Tropical Fruits. Its tree produces fruit of the most delectable flavours. The fruit was first introduced into Australia in the 1940s but only became commercially available in the 1970s. Despite its name, mangosteen is not related to the mango.

Characteristics ; 

The mangosteen fruit is round with a crown and stem attached. It ranges from 4 cm to 8 cm in diameter and weighs between 50 grams and 150 grams. The thick, leathery skin is deep purple when ripe and the flesh is pearly white and divided into five to seven segments and is delicious!

The fruit is harvested ripe, ready to eat.

Taste Mangosteen is a fruit that melts in the mouth, with a taste that is subtle, delicate and sweet, yet acidic.

Buying and Storing Choose fruits that have no skin imperfections or major discolouration. A green stem indicates that the fruit is fresh. The skin should yield when pressed gently. Mangosteen will keep for a few days without refrigeration, but storage at 10°C is ideal and extends shelf life to about 20 days. 

Refrigeration can cause damage to the fruit, so it is advisable to wrap the fruit in newspaper and store it in the upper part of the refrigerator. 

Once harvested, mangosteens do not ripen further.

Preparing and Serving Mangosteens are best eaten fresh just as they are, or added to fruit salads. 

The simplest method of opening the fruit is to place the mangosteen in the palm of the hand with the fruit’s stem on top. Remove the stem and exert gentle pressure on the upper half of the fruit until the shell opens. Another option is to cut only through the circumference of the shell, all the way around, and then lift off the top of the fruit and spoon out the flesh. This makes a very attractive presentation and is ideal for desserts. Do not cut through the segments when preparing in this way. Mangosteens are an exotic addition to champagne or sparkling wine.

Availability is from February to April unless fruit is imported. 

Health benefits of mangosteen;

Delicious and juicy, mangosteen is one of the popular tropical fruits. It comprises an impressive list of essential nutrients, which are required for normal growth and development and overall nutritional well-being.

This fruit is very low in calories (63 calories per 100 g) and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. Nonetheless, it is rich in dietary fiber (100 g provides about 13% of RDA), which can be very important for individuals who are concerned about putting on excess body weight.

Mangosteen is good in vitamin C and provides about 12% of RDA per 100 g. Vitamin-C is a powerful water soluble anti-oxidant. Consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against flu-like infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.

Fresh fruit is a moderate source of B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, niacin and folates. These vitamins are acting as cofactors the help body metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats.

Further, it also contains a very good amount of minerals like copper, manganese and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids and helps control heart rate, and blood pressure; thus, it offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.

It's currently one of my favourite fruits and have been eating it daily whilst in Bali #yummy!