Fruit Tree of the Day: Mangosteen
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Today’s fruit tree is the mangosteen tree. Mangosteens are delicious–better than lychees. Sadly, it’s rare to find fresh mangosteens. Rarely, my local Asian markets will carry them, but they cost $12 a pound. Worth every penny, though. They taste that good even though they’re usually bruised and at the tail end of their shelf life. I imagine ones right off a tree taste heavenly. You may also find some in the canned food section of your local Asian market. As always, fresh ones taste much better.
Unfortunately, they’re very hard to grow in the mainland US. They originated in Malaya, and sometime along the way most varieties lost true seeds–they developed a “nucellar asexual embryo” instead. Basically, the seeds are baby clones of the plant. Because of this, it’s very hard to breed new varieties, so for the most part the seedlings have to be grown in the same exact conditions the mother plant grew in. So, they need everything perfect: Constantly moist soil, (but not from standing water) soil with a high fertilizer content, high humidity, (not a problem in Florida! 
) and (the clincher) consistent warm temperatures, never getting exposed to anything below 40. The plant will even stop growing if the temperature gets below 60. So it’s very difficult to grow outdoors in places that aren’t tropical.
It is possible to grow in a greenhouse, if you get all the other conditions right. I’m going to try to winter them indoors using plant growth lights. Seashore and lemon drop are two varieties that are supposed to be hardier, so I’m planting those. I was saving this post as one of the last ones because I was hoping to have pictures of my seedlings, but the seeds haven’t arrived yet. I ordered them from India in February, and they just now left India. I don’t want to hear one of you complaining about Meh’s shipping provider! 
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Mangosteen: the PURPLE fruit!
I love them very much, as much as I love purple.
@curtise Look at the picture. Sometimes they’re yellow.
Or other colors. Purple is the most common color, though.
@Weboh purple fruit tastes best. Because it’s purple.
@curtise Purple lovers unite!
My very favorite fruit! They used to be impossible to find and I would order them for $8-$10 EACH (plus shipping).
I’ve always wondered about the Kipling riddle. You know, “you will know what this riddle means, when you have eaten mangosteens”.
I had fresh mangosteens when I was in southern India many years ago. It was the first time I encountered the fruit and I LOVED them. The best was I can describe the flavor is like the best tasting chewy sweet tart you’ve ever had. Sadly I’ve only seen them in stores once since then and was very disappointed that of the three I bought two were dry and shriveled inside and the third had just a hint of that amazing flavor.
@gt0163c so what you’re saying is that I should never ever try these if abroad, otherwise I’ll be sadly disappointed I can never find that perfect flavor again.
@RiotDemon That depends. Are you willing to miss out an awesome experience just because you know you will never experience that same level of awesomeness again in your life? Or would you rather never have that experience at all? Are you willing to suffer through difficulties in order to also experience amazing things? Or would you rather live a life that could be described by a Meh product description?
EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!
Plz do South American Sapote
I’ve enjoyed reading these tree posts. . . makes me disappointed it’s tough to get most them to survive in Georgia.
@jrwofuga That’s why you move to Florida!
Though actually, it’s why I’m considering moving to Puerto Rico where all these trees will grow so much better. Only thing I’d miss is lychees. But I’d get mangosteen, so it’s a good trade.
@Weboh A person who decides where he/she lives based on fruit. . . it could be worse I suppose.
I have to try it then, I guess.
Addendum: Lemondrop mangosteens taste like lemon warheads. Really good fresh; really good with miraclefruit, too. Grows easily in Florida in Zone 10a, at least. Can produce decently in shade, and under a canopy can survive in at least zone 9b.
Still don’t compare to for real mangosteens: Otherwise known as just mangosteens (no qualifier added). They’re the bomb.com and you should really try them whenever you get the chance, no matter the price.
@Weboh Did your seedlings survive?
@Kyeh Never wound up getting any seeds. India’s Covid restrictions made the package of seeds never leave the country. It was just bounced around between a couple post offices near international airports until it disappeared.
But I haven’t had a place of my own to plant anything permanent like a tree for the past year, anyway. One of these days I’ll try again.
@Weboh Oh, too bad.
@Kyeh Eh, there’s pros and cons. I don’t know where or when I’ll wind up settling down, and now I don’t have as many pots to take with me when I move from place to place. Still have access to the source of those seeds and hopefully I’ll find a forever home where I can get everything in the ground soon.
Mangosteen has incredible health benefits!
@Tadlem43 So does every exotic fruit. The harder it is to get your hands on, the better the health community will say it is for you.
But yeah, just eating more fresh fruits and veggies is always good for your health.
Have you tried the YngwieMalmsteen? It was popular in the 80’s
@capnjb
/giphy “oh, you!”