The new mango
Posted on Mar 16th, 2012 by Allison (Bali, Reviews/Recommendations, Travel)

My birthday was so spectacular that it is taking me awhile to get through photos and videos to post. So in the meantime, I thought I’d share one of my new food discoveries here in Bali.

While in Costa Rica last year, I discovered my love of a good mango. Mangoes were so plentiful and fresh – I just couldn’t get enough. I purchased a few from my local grocery store in the states, and they’re okay, but just not the same as a fresh, ripe from the vine mango in Costa Rica.

I was hoping I might find similarly fresh and tasty mangoes in Bali, but it is not their season. Instead, I was served an interesting fruit I’ve never tried before – fresh mangosteen.

Pretty purple/red on the outside – white, juicy fleshy sections on the inside. The texture of the fruit is kind of like the soft areas of a honeydew. Or maybe a bit like a peach. But the taste is different than either…. it is reminiscent of many fruits – but hard to describe.

It was very good, different than I would’ve expected. When we stopped by a farmers market the other day, one of the vendors offered me a mangosteen ‘gratis’, in hopes I would purchase more. One bite and I was hooked!

It was even sweeter and fresher than the mangosteen I had eaten for breakfast the day prior. I purchased 5 and paid 5,000 Rupiah. That may sound like a lot, but it’s only .55 cents – basically 11 cents each. I think they often sell for over $3.00 EACH when imported into the states (if you can even find it).

So mangosteen is the new mango. And now I’m going to go to the market and buy more!

Have you ever tried fresh mangosteen?

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Comments

A King's Life on March 16th, 2012 at 8:22 pm

We love Mangosteen and had lots of it in Costa Rica.
They have a drink in the states that is the ‘new’ energy/antioxidant drink and it contain mangosteen.
They are good for you.
Beautiful pics.


Jennifer Pearce on March 16th, 2012 at 9:36 pm

For whatever reason, we never knew about mangosteens until we went to the fruit farm in Penang, I think, and had them there. Then we started noticing them in other places too. Amazing how sometimes we just don’t see what’s right in front of us until we are introduced to it. They are delicious!


Kristin on March 16th, 2012 at 10:19 pm

Sounds delightful. I want one. Or three. I think mangosteen is what Xango is made of — that “miracle drink” that the Dilles sell…. I think fresh would have to be better. I should go there and eat it and maybe it would cure me of my asthma. And my laziness. And extra poundage. Any chance of that?


Allison on March 17th, 2012 at 5:38 am

@kristin There’s always a chance. Come try it!


Paul on March 17th, 2012 at 12:23 pm

We have mango trees at work. The fruit hardly has time to ripen before the trees are stripped. That’s ok with me. I very much dislike them. I don’t like the texture. I think if a mango and a banana got together they would make the most disgusting slimy cereal additive ever. Loved the post and the happy birthday to me from Bali. you still got the voice. I lost mine years ago. And happy birthday. I’m sure it was incredible.


Brandon on March 18th, 2012 at 6:54 am

I love mangosteens! Sweet and delicious, and usually only 1-2 seeds in the fruit, which means the rest of the segments can just be popped in like candy. 🙂


Irene on March 19th, 2012 at 5:25 pm

Very interesting looking . I would LOVE to try several. I really like regular mango, so I would probably LOVE the mangosteen. The center really looks most interesting. Now can you eat those little white segments as well as the colorful ring around them? Is their sink tough like a regular mango?


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