With the mangosteen season in full swing, make sure to grab the tastiest fruits while you can. Don’t worry about picking unripe or overripe ones; we’ve got you covered with these expert tips straight from a Tra Vinh orchard owner.
1 Choose Dark-Colored Fruits for Immediate Consumption
Opt for fruits with a deep brown color and an attractive, undamaged skin. Give the fruit a gentle squeeze to ensure it has a good bounce-back, indicating ripeness.
If you’re buying in bulk, go for green fruits with a hint of red on the skin. These are already ripe but will take 2-3 days to reach their peak flavor.
Contrary to popular belief, the presence of yellow sap on the fruit’s exterior is not an indicator of superior taste. According to our orchard expert, it’s simply a natural occurrence.
Choose dark-colored fruits if you want to eat them right away.
2 Go for Medium-Sized, Round Fruits
Avoid oversized fruits as they tend to have thicker skins and less flesh. Instead, select round fruits that comfortably fit in the palm of your hand, similar in size to a golf ball.
3 Examine the Base of the Fruit
Take a look at the bottom of the fruit—you’ll see a flower-like shape. The number of petals corresponds to the number of segments inside. So, if you’re after a fruit with more segments, this is a handy trick!
There you have it—three simple tips to ensure you pick the sweetest and most delicious mangosteens!
