The mangosteen may just be one of the most fascinating fruits you’ll ever encounter. Native to southeast Asia, where it’s been cultivated for thousands of years, a ripe mangosteen has the outward appearance of something like a round, purple persimmon. When peeled open, however, it becomes apparent that the purple exterior is really an inedible exocarp, and that the actual fruit inside is soft, white, and sectioned like the inside of a tangerine. Upon eating one, you’ll discover that its sweet and faintly tart flavor profile is like a mix between a stone fruit, a citrus, and a strawberry. We’ve found that it’s a profile that’s pitch perfect for capturing in the form of a freeze dried fruit snack, so that’s exactly what we’ve done with Trader Joe’s Freeze Dried Mangosteen.

Made without the use of any sweeteners or preservatives, it takes about nine ounces of fresh mangosteen to make each 1.51-ounce pouch of Trader Joe’s Freeze Dried Mangosteen. That means that every bite is super concentrated with the uniquely sweet, tangy, and delightfully tropical flavor of Mangosteen. Aside from making an excellent anytime snack (and a smart addition to school lunches), we reccomend our Freeze Dried Mangosteen as a topping for breakfasts like cereal, oatmeal, and yogurt, and as a fun addition to all sorts of baked sweet treats.