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Purple Mangosteen - [Garcinia mangostana]

The Purple Mangosteen is a rather picky tropical tree which only grows well in a few locations in Southeast Asia and Central Africa, though a few are grown in Hawaii. The tree may grow to 80 feet under the right conditions but will be killed by temperatures above 100°F/38°C or below 40°F/4.5°C, and it's very fussy about soil as well.

The photo specimens were purchased in February 2008 soon after the ban on fresh mangosteens was lifted - provided they were fumigated or subjected to irradiation sufficient to kill Asian fruit fly. Previously they were only available frozen. These were about 2-3/4 inches diameter and weighed 5-1/8 ounces. Yield is about 33%, and at US $4.50/pound for whole fruit that made them quite expensive.

The fruit is of excellent flavor, sweet and tangy, and is eaten fresh from the shell cut (or more properly broken) as shown in the photo. Segments may or may not include a seed and the seeds are edible after boiling or roasting. The number of petals on the flower end of the fruit will be the same as the number of segments within.

Canned mangosteen is easily available in the U.S. but not considered as good because the flavor is quickly degraded by canning heat.

The purplish fruit has a thin brittle shell and a thick fibrous rind which is very high in pectin. A jelly is made from it after bitter elements have been leached out with salt. The red juice of the rind is a dye that's nearly impossible to remove from fabric.

Mangosteen rind has long been used in China and Southeast Asia as an herbal medicine and now mangosteen juice (made from rind and pulp) is heavily promoted in the U.S. through sophisticated "Network Marketing" schemes. It sells for over US $1.00/ounce with implications it can relieve everything up to and including cancer. Claims for it's benefits are almost completely unconfirmed and it's extremely unlikely the juice can deliver anything like the benefits implied. It is, however, making a huge amount of money for its perpetrators (M2).

Kokum Phool - [Wild Mangosteen (English); Amsool, Aamsul, Bindin, Biran, Bhirand, Bhinda, Bhrinda, Brinda, Kokum, Kokam, Katambi, Panarpuli, Kudam Puli, Ratamba (India); Goraka (Sri Lanka); Garcinia indica]

Kokum is purple fruit used as a souring agent, usually in dried form, though a soft salt preserved form is common in India. It is common along the western coast of India where the tree is native, and takes the place tamarind fills elsewhere. It is used in other regions as well, particularly Sri Lanka and Malaysia where it is used in fish curries and is said to slow spoilage.

In general, whole pieces of the dried fruit rind are added to curries and similar dishes. It is also used, often in syrup form, to flavor summer beverages. The photo specimens, obtained from an Indian market in Los Angeles, were up to 1-1/8 inches in diameter.

Oil from the seeds remains solid at room temperature and is used for confectionery, cosmetics and medicinals. Various parts of the fruit and plant are used medicinally.   Details and Cooking.

Gambooge - [Brindleberry, Malabar Tamarind, Citrin Fruit; Kodumpulli (Karela), Goraka (Sri Lanka); Garcinia gummi-gutta alt Garcinia cambogia]

Native to Indonesia but now grown in other regions, this fruit, when mature, is orange with sutures, resembling a miniature pumpkin, though shape may vary. It is used as a souring agent in curries, particularly in Kerela, the far southwest coast of India. Like Kokum it is sold in both hard dried form and soft salt preserved form, and is more citrusy than Kokum.

Gambooge is also now grown in south and central Africa In the West it is currently being hyped as a weight loss aid, though formal confirmation of that is still lacking and there is some risk of liver toxicity. Recipes calling for Gambooge may ask for "a few petals". The dried fruit splits along the sutures into these "petals".   Drawing by Franz Eugen Köhler in public domain - copyright expired.

Asam Keping - [Asam Gelugur, Asam Gulugo, Asam Keping (Malay); Garcinia atroviridis]

This yellow fruit, native to the Malaysian rainforests, is too sour to eat fresh, but has long been used dried as a flavoring in curries and the like - and like so many others in the Mangosteen family, as a weight loss potion. The fruit is loaded with antioxidants and is thought to aid in conversion of fat to energy. The photo specimens, purchased from an large Indian market in Glendale, CA, were about 2-1/8 inches across.

Bacuparl - [Garcinia gardneriana]

Native to the Amazon Basin of South America, the edible arils of this fruit are used in the region. It is also being studied as an agent in fighting cancer.   Photo by Carolqk contributed to the public domain.

Achacha - [Achachairú: Garcinia humilis]

This fruit is grown primarily in Bolivia, but has recently been planted commercially in Australia where there is an ongoing advertising campaign to promote it. The nearly spherical orange fruits are up to 2-1/2 inches in length, and the arils have a bitter-sweet taste.   Photo by Joseani.neves distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

African Mangosteen - [Lowveld Mangosteen; Imbe; Garcinia livingstonei]

Native to a broad area of Africa from Somalia to South Africa, this is a traditional food plant in the region. There and elsewhere it is also grown as a decorative fruit tree. The taste of the aril surrounding the single seed is pleasantly sweet-sour, but it contains a latex some people dislike. The juice is used in beverages. The thin skinned orange fruit is up to 1-5/8 inches diameter. This tree can be grown in southern Florida (where the photo was taken) and is often made up as a male/female graft so a single isolated tree will bear fruit.   Photo: any use is permitted provided Christopher Hind is credited and his Flickr Page is linked.

Charichuelo - [Garcinia madruno]

Native to Central and South America, the white arils of this fruit have a sweet, citrusy taste. This tree can be grown in southern Florida (where the photo was taken).   Photo by Chris Hind distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

Cherapu - [Button Mangosteen; Garcinia prainiana]

Cultivated in Southeast Asia, this fruit has a very thin skin, making it easy to eat fresh. Some have compared the flavor to a tangerine. This tree can be grown in southern Florida (where the photo was taken).   Photo by Christopher Hind (CiXeL) contributed to the public domain.

Bacuri - [Pakuri; Maniballi, Naranjillo, Bacurizeiro; Platonia insignis]

Native to tropical South America, this tree bears roughly spherical fruit up to 5-1/2 inches in diameter. The aril has a sweet-sour taste and is often used to make condiments and beverages. The oily seeds are used medicinally to treat skin conditions.   Photo by Hellen Perrone contributed to the public domain.

Mammee Apple - [Mamey, Mamey Apple, Santo Domingo Apricot, South American Apricot; Mammea americana]

Not to be confused with the Mamey Sapote (Pouteria sapota) the fruit of which is also called mammee or mamey, this tree is native to tropical South America and Central America as well as the West Indies. It is now also grown in West Africa, Southeast Asia, Hawaii and Florida. The roughly spherical fruit is up to 8 inches in diameter with 1 to 4 seeds depending on size. The fruit can be eaten in fruit salads but is commonly made into beverages, including alcoholic beverages. In some cases the fruit flesh is soaked in salt water to remove bitterness.   Photo by Fibonacci distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (attribution required).

St. John's Wort - [Tipton's Weed, Chase-devil, Klamath weed; Hypericum perforatum and other Hypericum species]

This famous medicinal herb is not used in culinary practice, but is included here for perspective.   Photo by Michael H. Lemmer distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

• M1 - Mangosteen Info - Purdue University.
• M2 - Mangosteen & Health - Health & Beyond - Dr. Ralph Moss: A Friendly Skeptic Looks at Mangosteen.