The mangosteen is a fruit originating in Southeast Asia. It is considered a member of the plant family Clusiaceae (see the SCIENCE, NON-SCIENCE AND NONSENSE section of this site) although it is often in earlier works referred to as a member of the Guttiferae family. The latin name for the mangosteen is Garcinia mangostana L. and the genus Garcinia is an honor bestowed upon Laurent Garcin by Linnaeus for his work as a botanist and naturalist in the 18th century. The mangosteen as a fresh fruit is in great demand in its native range and is savored by all who find its subtle flavors a refreshing balance of sweet and sour. It should be pointed out that Asians consider many foods to be either 'cooling' such as the mangosteen or 'heating' such as the durian depending on whether they possess elements that reflect yin and yang. This duality is commonly used to help describe balance in many aspects of life in general and food in particular throughout Asia.
