About Mangosteen Fruits

The Mangosteen fruit is native to Malaysia and it has been known as the ‘Queen of fruits’. The main producing countries of mangosteen are in Philippines, India, Thailand and Malaysia.  The regions in Malaysia prominent with this fruit are harvested twice a year and is an additional source of income in the regions of Sabah, Sandakan, Jerebu, Keningau and Tenom.

The Plantations

Malaysia, is a humid tropical country  ideal climate for mangosteen plantations. The tree is a slow growing plant and can grow up to 10 to 15 meters and have yields deep purple fruits when ripe. Ideal conditions for growth  is a temperature range from 25 °C to 35 °C. Interestingly the growth of mangosteen gets retarded or stops if the temperature goes below 20 °C. Meanwhile, it can withstand a maximum of 35 °C in a tropical climates.

Malaysia with its ideal climate conditions favors mangosteen growth. Its environment with high humidity, high temperature, abundant rainfall and layers of tropical rainforest provides shady growing places for the mangosteen.  The tree needs adequate water supply during fruiting season. The rain amount and monsoon season in Malaysia are very suitable to grow mangosteen and results in a high-quality fruit.

Why Grow it?

Furthermore, the queen of fruits has a long shelf-life with refrigeration, coupled with a hardy nature it is ideal for export. The taste generally well accepted and have made it an attractive for investment for some.

Additionally, to grow it the mangosteen is relatively pest free due to the trees natural ability to fight off insects and disease by producing a yellow latex upon injury. The diseases which can affect the mangosteen tree include canker which causes the death of trees and pink disease which causes wilting of the leaf by infection. The availability of pest control and chemicals to treat disease before the infection stages advances include the use of methamidophos and fenthion.

Mangosteen trees take a minimum of 7 years before the first fruit can be seen, but they tree can fruit for up to 100 years with an average yield of 100 kg of fruit per tree indeed lucrative, who says money does not grow on trees!

Nutritional Information

Last but not least, the nutritional properties of this fruit not only tastes refreshing with a sweet,sour and slightly astringent taste but has some of the most powerful antioxidants known. The bioactive compounds found are extremely impressive with abilities to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria and is even a potent anti-inflammation agent.
The mangosteen has also been known to boost the immune system.

Good Stuff is in the pericarp (Skin)