The Green Mangosteen Trend: Why It Costs Half a Million VND per KG

Green mangosteen has become the latest culinary craze in Vietnam, with prices soaring as high as 500,000 VND per kilogram for pre-processed fruit. Traditionally, mangosteen is enjoyed ripe as a sweet dessert, but a rising trend in 'green mangosteen chicken salad' has transformed this fruit into a sought-after luxury ingredient.

The high price point is largely due to the labor-intensive processing required. The fruit must be peeled under running water to prevent the sap from staining the flesh and turning it dark. Furthermore, it takes 6-8kg of raw, unpeeled green mangosteen to yield just 1kg of edible fruit. Vendors must carefully select fruit that is perfectly firm—neither too young nor too ripe—to ensure the ideal crunchy texture and sweet-sour balance needed for salads. Despite the high cost, demand remains strong, with some vendors selling hundreds of kilograms per week to restaurants and home cooks eager to try this trendy, gourmet dish.

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