Mangosteens are so ubiquitous in our country. Yet, this purple fruit was once regarded as a luxury by Europeans. When Westerners first encountered mangosteens, the mouthwatering blend of lychee, peach, strawberry, and pineapple flavours captivated them.
However, mangosteens have a poor resume than most supermarket fruits. They can’t withstand cold temperatures, their trees take a decade to start fruiting, and even then, the yield is uncertain.
According to a rumour that dates back to 1890, Queen Victoria was willing to grant anyone a knighthood and all they had to do was bring her one mangosteen fruit, because that’s how fast it spoils over there! Is this true? We’ll never know. Regardless, Queen Mangosteen reigns supreme in the lush tropic lands of Southeast Asia thanks to her:
#1 Powerful antioxidants
Mangosteens carry…