This made my day.
We stopped by our neighborhood fruit shop, and lo and behold, there was a nice big pile of mangosteens for sale! It’s the first time I’ve seen them this season, and they won’t be around for long.
Mangosteens are incredibly delicious, and are my second favorite fruit in the whole wide world. (My favorite is jackfruit, in case you were wondering.)
I’m not the only one who feels this way. I saw this article in the New York Times from someone who’s an even bigger fan than I am. “No other fruit, for me, is so thrillingly, intoxicatingly luscious…as a ripe mangosteen,” the author says.
Mangosteens have a hard exterior shell that you can crack open by squeezing with your hand (though it’s probably more dignified to use a knife). The inside looks like the inside of a clementine, but all white instead of orange. The segments are softer and sweeter than citrus, and just so darn good.
Drool.
In most of the Western world, I think they are either very expensive, or simply not attainable. But if you happen to be in southeast Asia, be sure to sample this “Queen of Fruit.”
I plan to eat early, eat often.
What in the Middle Kingdom? 枇杷 Pipa (loquats)
December 12, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Tried finding this in my previous city Xiamen, but to no avail. What’s the typical season for it?
This fruit is delicious when put in chrysanthemum tea!
December 12, 2016 at 10:52 pm
I think it’s usually summer, at least around here. I will have to try it in chrysanthemum tea. Thanks for the tip, Lawrence!
December 14, 2016 at 6:20 pm
You’re welcome and greetings from Shenzhen!