Monday, April 20, 2009

Mangosteen, the queen of fruits

My recent adventures in Cerok Tokun have become more and more interesting and full of excitement after I expanded MyJourney from focusing solely on the altitude to area surrounding the park. This place somehow is so "new" to me now although I have been here for years.

I have re-visited the tree with termites building their nest covering up the tree bark for about 8 feet high from the ground . The scratched area has not been rebuilt, thanks to my damaging power.

In the neighbourhood, I found some juvenile mangosteen fruits scattering around the ground. These were not seen during my previous visit and this simply showed that I has not been able to recognise a mangosteen tree without any clues.

This juvenile fruits are pale green in colour. On the bottom of the rind, there are raised ridges or remnants of the stigma that correspond to the number of aril sections.

The one in the middle of the picture is a mangosteen tree. It is about 40 feet tall but may grow up to 75 feet. It looks nothing much different nor unique from some of its neighbours, this must be the reason it has been overlooked by me so far.

Mangosteen is called “the queen of fruits" in Asia that contrary to what durian is named "the King of fruits". The creation of both is considered the goodness of nature since we believe too much consumption of durian may cause "excessive internal heat", taking mangosteen will then cool down our body. It is interested to note further that both fruits ripen in the same season. What a terrific arrangement.

The matured fruit contains a dark purple softer rind and is roughly about the size of a tangerine. The edible inner white arils are sweet enough when the fruit is fully ripen, thus we always receive black little ants as a supplement at the time we bring the fruits back home.

10 comments:

betchai said...

that is a very interesting information, i did not know that mangosteen is kind of coolant in contrast to durian which is warm, and they both have the same season of bearing fruits. it is really a terrific arrangement from nature.

WiseAcre said...

Very interesting looking fruit. I'd try the Mangosteen, I can always use a cooling off after work. ...and after everyone saying how good the Durian is I'd take a bite of that too.

Mike said...

Rainfield one of my favourite fruits when in seasons. A little messy to eat/peel but well worth the effort.

I once saw mangosteenes in a UK supermarket at £1 each!

Rick (Ratty) said...

It's always good to take a break from a familiar place. we find new things when we come back, just like you said. These mangosteen fruits do look very interesting. I knew I was seeing something unique when I first looked at your pictures. Durian and mangosteen must go great together.

roentare said...

Wow, I have never seen this type of fruit before. Beautiful colour and looks delicious

rainfield61 said...

betchai: The Nature planned so well that can't be denied. Only how well we plan to preserve the nature.

WiseAcre: Do you know that mangosteen xanthones show cytotoxic properties against cancer cells?

Mike: RM5/pcs. Wow!!! I can get 1 kg by this.

Ratty: I'll disclose more that have be discovered recently. Really full of excitement.

roentarre: You have not seen this fruit before. Sorry. You have missed such a delicious fruit.

The Retired One said...

I have never seen this fruit. Is it very sweet to taste? How do you eat it, do you cook it or eat it raw?

The Retirement Chronicles

rainfield61 said...

The Retired One: Sorry for the incomple info. The fruit is actually very sweet. We eat it raw after seperated the rind into two half by hands.

Jeannette StG said...

That is very interesting about mangosteen. I've heard my mother, who lived in Indonesia, for most part of her life, talk seveeral times about durian (very smelly, but great in taste).

•°°• IcyBC •°°• said...

I remember eating this delicious fruit in VN growing up.

I don't find it here in America.