A tropical evergreen, the mangosteen comes in several varieties but purple mangosteens are the most common for eating and juicing. These fruits have a very thick outer skin that cannot be eaten; this must be removed before you run the fruit through your juicer. Mangosteens are popular with juicers due to their anti-inflammatory properties and have been used in Chinese medicine for years. They may be difficult to find in American supermarkets, but should be available in an Asian market in most areas.

What are the Best Mangosteen for Juicing?

Mangosteens are extremely sweet and juicy, and are the only fruits where glucose can be readily harvested from the raw fruit. They grow throughout the tropics of Asia and are most popular in Vietnam and Malaysia. There are very few sub-types or varieties of mangosteen as the plant is asexual, making it very difficult to hybridize. The purple mangosteen available today is essentially the same fruit that has been eaten since they were first cultivated.

It may be difficult to find a mangosteen in America due to laws against its importation from Asia. Domestic-grown fruits are cultivated only in some areas of Florida and California as most of America is not tropical enough to sustain them. They are also becoming more popular throughout the Caribbean and Puerto Rico, so they will become easier to obtain in the US.

How to Choose a Mangosteen at Market

Mangosteens will be roughly the size of a billiard ball and have a hard dark purple skin. Once the skin has been opened, the actual flesh of the mangosteen is bright white in color and is divided into segments somewhat like garlic cloves.

The best mangosteen for juicing will be somewhat soft to the touch without feeling squishy. Fruit that is very hard is not yet ripe and will not have a full flavor. The bottom of the fruit will have the impression of leaves where the stem was removed; the number of leaves will correspond to the number of white segments inside.

You can cut open a mangosteen along its equator or simply squeeze it until the skin bursts open. The fruit can then be peeled and eaten as-is or run through the juicer.