Q. What is mangosteen?
A. Mangosteen is the fruit of the garcinia mangostana, an evergreen tree that is native to Southeast Asia. It’s widely believed to be the most delicious fruit in the world, with descriptions of the flavor ranging from ‘a cross between a pear and a strawberry’ to ‘everything from vanilla ice cream to strawberries’. The real buzz about mangosteen, though, is how healthy it is for your body. Mangosteen contains no less than 40 different xanthones, antioxidants that scientists say are more potent than either vitamin E or vitamin C.

Q. What are these xanthones?
A. Xanthones are a type of super-charged antioxidant. More specifically, they’re a class of phytonutrients that have shown many healthy benefits, including anti-tumor and anti-bacterial properties. There are about 200 xanthones identified so far in nature, and mangosteen juice contains at least 40 of them.

Q. Where are mangosteens from?
A. The garcinia mangostana grows in subtropical regions like India, Thailand and Malaysia. It also is grown in Hawaii and South America, though it doesn’t grow as well there. Most mangosteens come from Southeast Asia.

Q. Where can I buy fresh mangosteens?
A. You can’t, if you live in the United States. The USDA prohibits the importing of fresh mangosteens because of the possibility of importing agricultural pests. You can, however, buy mangosteen juice, and there are several requests for permits to import mangosteens in the works.

Q. What are the health benefits of mangosteen juice?
A. Mangosteen juice is made with the whole mangosteen fruit, including the antioxidant-packed rind. It helps promote healthy functioning of many bodily processes, increases energy and promotes healthy joints and cartilage.

Q. Where can I buy mangosteen juice?
A. Mangosteen juice is being sold under a number of brand names in the United States. Take a look at our ‘Order Mangosteen Juice’ page for more information.