Mangosteen: The Divine Fruit of Southeast Asia

The mangosteen, often referred to as the "Fruit of God" in Southeast Asia, is celebrated for its remarkable health benefits and delicious taste. Despite its divine reputation, the precise origins of the mangosteen remain shrouded in mystery. However, it is widely believed that the fruit originated in the Malay Archipelago, specifically the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas.

Native to Malaysia, wild species of mangosteen can be found in both Malaysia and India. The cultivated mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) is thought to have descended from G. silvestris Boerl, a species thriving in these regions. A study suggests that Peninsular Malaysia might be the mangosteen's true area of origin, possibly arising as a hybrid between G. hombroniana and G. malleccensis.

The domestication of the mangosteen likely began in Thailand and Burma. By 1965, Thailand had devoted 9,700 acres (4,000 hectares) to its cultivation. The fruit is also extensively grown in Cambodia, southern Vietnam, Burma, Malaysia, and Singapore. Named after the French explorer Laurent Garcia (1683-1751), the mangosteen has been cultivated for centuries in various parts of the humid tropics, demonstrating its adaptability and appeal.

The tree was introduced to Ceylon around 1800 and to India in 1881. While it is rare in Queensland, Australia, it has been experimented with since 1854. In tropical Africa, it is poorly represented, with some presence in Zanzibar, Ghana, Gabon, and Liberia. Remarkably, fruiting trees were successfully grown in greenhouses in England as early as 1855, showcasing the plant's broad climatic adaptability.

Mangosteen plants reached Puerto Rico in 1903, and by 1906, seeds had made their way to the United States Department of Agriculture. However, the survival rate of seedlings in the U.S. was notably poor, hindering widespread cultivation.

In recent years, the mangosteen has experienced a surge in international demand, driven by its unique flavor and numerous health benefits. This growing popularity has encouraged producers to revisit and invest in mangosteen cultivation. Countries like Thailand and Malaysia have seen renewed interest in expanding their mangosteen exports to meet the rising global demand, further cementing the fruit's status as a treasured commodity in the international market.

The mangosteen's rich history, combined with its health benefits and exquisite taste, continues to captivate consumers worldwide. As cultivation practices improve and global interest grows, the mangosteen's legacy as the "Fruit of God" is likely to flourish even further.
Mangosteen: The Divine Fruit of Southeast Asia

Mangosteen of Southeast Asia

The mangosteen (botanically name Garcinia mangostana L.) is a type of fruit unfamiliar in the United States but highly prized in many other parts of the world.

It was described as Mangostana Garcinia by Gaetner in 1790, but Linnaeus description of the genus Garcinia meant that the valid taxonomic name is Garcinia magostana L.

Believed to have originated in Southeast Asian origin, the Sundaes Islands and the Moluccas, the mangosteen is widely cultivated in the tropics.

The latest study by A.J Richards on the origin of mangosteen indicated that Peninsular Malaysia was probably the area of origin due to original parent having possibly arisen as a hybrid G. hombroniana and G malleccensis.

Often referred to as the queen of fruits, eating mangosteen is believed to have a ‘cooling’ effect, thought to counteract the ‘heatiness’ of the king of fruit, the durian.

Mangosteen is known as mangostanier in French, mangostan in Spanish, mangostao in Portuguese and mangostane in German.

It was introduced into Sri Lanka about 1800 and thrives there in moist regions. It was first cultivated in India during the eighteenth century and between 1880 and 1890 plantings were made at the Kallar and Buliar stations in Madras State.

Historically, the mangosteen has been used for centuries in Asian countries as a traditional remedy for many health problems. Today, its use continues in developed and undeveloped nations as both a delicacy and a medicine.
Mangosteen of South East Asia

The Introduction of Mangosteen to the New World

The fruit has hand a long history of use dating back thousands of years. The mangosteen is presumed to have originated in South east Asia, possibly in the Malayan Peninsular and Indonesian region and was known in the western world as early as 1631.

The mangosteen was introduced into Trinidad from the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, England, between 1850 and 1860 and the first fruit was borne in 1875.

It reached the Panama Canal Zone and Puerto Rico in 1903 but there are only a few trees in these areas, in Jamaica, Dominica and Cuba, and some scattered around other parts of the West Indies.

By 1906, The United States Department of Agriculture received seeds from Java. A large test block of productive trees has been maintained at the Lancetilla Experimental Station at Tela, Honduras, for many years.

In 1939, 15,000 seeds were distributed by the Canal Zone Experiment Gardens to many areas of tropical America.

Only recently has knowledge of the benefits and delicious taste of mangosteen begun to sweep North America.

As more American learn of this healing food, interest continues to grow, and so the companies selling mangosteen products.
The Introduction of Mangosteen to the New World

The Origin of Mangosteen

In South East Asia the fruit is known as Fruit of God because of health benefits and delicious taste of fruits.

The place of origin of the mangosteen is unknown but is believed to be in Malay Archipelago or the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas.

Mangosteen is native to Malaysia. The wild species of mangosteen are found in Malaysia and India. Mangosteen is derived from G. silvestris Boerl, a species also found growing in both countries.

However, there was also a study that indicated that Peninsular Malaysia was probably the area of origin due to original parent having possibly arisen as and hybrid G. hombroniana and G malleccensis.

There was a suggestion that the tree may have been first domesticated was done in Thailand and Burma. It is much cultivated in Thailand–where there were 9,700 acres (4,000 ha) in 1965–also in Kampuchea, southern Vietnam and Burma, throughout Malaysia and Singapore.

The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) was named after the French explorer Laurent Garcia (1683-1751) and has been in cultivation for a considerable time in various parts of humid tropics.

The tree was planted in Ceylon about 1800 and in India in 1881.

It is rare in Queensland, where it has been tried many times since 1854, and poorly represented in tropical Africa (Zanzibar, Ghana, Gabon and Liberia). There were fruiting trees in greenhouses in England in 1855.

The plants reached Puerto Rico in 1903 and by 1906 seeds were received in the United States Department of Agriculture also but survival of seedlings was very poor.

The mangosteen is gaining popularity in the international market and recent demands for exported fruit have prompted growers to consider this crop with renewed interest.
Fruit of mangosteen