Santol ‘wild mangosteen’

Description

Santol originates in Cambodia, southern Laos and Malaya. The timber is of exceptional quality, and thus Sri Lanka and Myanmar grow the trees primarily for its wood and sadly the fruit is discarded.

Santols grow to the size of softballs on the tree before turning yellow, orange, and finally a rusty, yellowish orange color when fully ripe. The surface of the Santol is similar to a peach. Ripe fruits fall naturally from the tree.

Santol’s other name – the cotton fruit – comes from its fluffy white edible portion surrounding the seed. Its texture is spongy and, like a mangosteen, the flesh never separates from the seed entirely. Sucking the flesh emits a milky, creamy, sweetish juice loved by most who try it. Offsetting the sweet juice are tart, floral, citrus and vinous notes.

The rind is sometimes dried and then grinded into a powder or some people pickle it for use as a souring agent.

Different varieties have different ratios of sour to sweet