What's That Fruit and How Do I Eat It? (Second Installment)

Eating the so-called forbidden fruit is one of the less adventurous things to do in Bangkok. You can find heaps of mangosteens on street corners all around town for about 20 to 30 baht per kilo (roughly 30 to 45 cents per pound). But for me, indulging in these creamy, sweet fruits is the single best perk of living in Thailand.

What's that fruit?

Slightly larger than a clementine, the mangosteen may be the world's most delicious fruit. Once outlawed in the mainland United States because of tropical pests, it is now legal but difficult and costly to ship overseas. I would argue that one bite is worth the ticket to Southeast Asia.

With a taste somewhere between a kiwi and a piña colada, the white pods are simultaneously juicy and milky. I'm embarrassed to admit how quickly I can go through a two-pound bag.

How do I eat it?

Opening a mangosteen is almost as fun as eating it. One helpful tip: Try not to think about how much the shell looks like a womb. Then you're good to go.

Run a dull knife (or your thumbnail, if you are too impatient to find a knife) along middle of the circumference, and pull the two halves apart.

To politely eat one, you can use a fork to pull out the pods. Usually the larger sections will have a fat seed, which is bitter if you chew it. You can eat around it or spit it out.

If you're alone in your apartment with a two-pound bag, you can just use your teeth to pull the fruit out.