Mangosteen or “măng cụt” is one of the most exotic tropical fruits you will taste when traveling to Vietnam. It origins from the South of Vietnam but has a special flavor when planted in Hue, especially “măng cụt” Kim Long. November and December in the lunar calendar is the season of this kind of fruit. Let’s follow a day trip from Hue at this time to taste the royal fruit from the aristocratic garden.
Mangosteen – a royal fruit from Kim Long village
Mangosteen or “măng cụt” is a kind of fruit with thick purple rind, soft and tangy flesh. The hard peel has great skill in protecting from bruising and damage. Inside, beautiful snow-white mangosteen has sections similar to tangerine that you can pull apart. You will never forget its exceptional juicy, refreshing, and sweet flavor if you taste. In this lunar December, we easily catch insight many vendors with mangosteen basket in Kim Long village. It is the season! The mangosteen trees in Kim Long are usually a hundred years old because they planted by mandarins of the Nguyen Dynasty. People said that “măng cụt” was an offering from the Mekong Delta people for Minh Mang Emperor. Realized the value of mangosteen, the emperor decided to grow it and named it “giáng châu” instead of “măng cụt”. It became the luxury fruit used for the royal family as the meaning “the pearl of God”.
Follow a storyteller and taste “the pearl of god” on a day trip from Hue
Mangosteen then grew a lot in Kim Long and Thuy Bieu village, however, the best is “măng cụt” Kim Long. Walking through Kim Long or Phú Mộng, you will be impressed by the extensive garden with plenty of fruit trees. A day trip from Hue brings you a visit to the traditional house of a mandarin who planted mangosteen. You will meet the offspring and listen to untold stories about “mệ” – the upper-class people. Know how Hue people treasure their garden and preserve every corner of the house. The owner usually wants to pick up, collects garden fruits to offer for the ancestor first then give to children. They also welcome the guests by the garden specialty with happiness.
“Măng cụt” is the oldest and most valuable not only for its flavor but also its season. There is just one season a year from August blossom to November fruit. Let’s take this time and sign up for Mandarin and family life with us to explore Kim Long village! Taste the mangosteen at its finest flavor and have a fun day with our local guide, your day trip from Hue will be a highlight.
