Mango..What?!?!..Mangosteen

As I was strolling idly through the St. Lawerence Market this past week I noticed a strange fruit sitting on the counter of a stall. I stopped, approached and inspected this strange dark ball. The sign read Mangosteen’s and since I’ve never tasted this amazing sounding fruit, all time great fruit name, I decided to buy one to eat. The mangosteen’s taste was sweet and sour on my palate. The taste of the fruit was not overpowering whatsoever. It was not bland but had a touch of sweetness and finished with a slight acidity. Well still in its skin there wasn’t much of any specific smell, but when peeled it did really remind me of a mango with its sweetness. The fruit is small about the size of a plum and when ripe, which it was, is a very deep dark purple colour. When peeled the innards of the fruit are a white almost translucent colour that shimmers with juice. I mean the fruit didn’t really talk much so there wasn’t much to hear. I didn’t want to throw it on the ground to hear a thud in case I may have damaged it. The skin was very tough and almost hard like a rough leather feel. When peeled the meat of the fruit was extremely soft and slimy with a hard pit in the center. The fruit tasted somewhat of mango but was more acidic almost like a small orange. It was hard to make a very close comparison off of one taste. This fruit is very unique as you can’t find it in an everyday grocery store. The store I bought it from is a one off and supplies other unique fruits and vegetables. It is also a regional food sourced mainly from south east Asia.

By eating this fruit I’m not to sure if I learned much about my palate. Even though it was a unique ingredient to me the flavours were not, they seemed familiar. I really did enjoy eating the fruit the texture was amazing and the flavour was just perfect, it would be amazing as an ice cream flavor. I would eat the fruit again. It is hard to find and that would definitely hinder my ability to eat it again, also it is very expensive which is another reason why I may not eat it again soon.

Eating and trying this food was a little eye opening. I didn’t search out this item I just came across it which was a cool experience it allowed me to think about ways to incorporate this item into dishes. It was fun trying the fruit, it is not often that I try new things because it is easy being comfortable in what you eat, I fall victim to this comfortability. But as a culinary student I need to expand my palate and try new things any chance I get. Doing this will only make me better as a cook.