DILIMAN, Quezon City—With its high nutritional value, mangosteen is not only well-loved as a fresh fruit but also because of its many applications in the food processing industry.
In a teleradyo interview on DZRH, Dr. Alfred’s Essentials, Inc. plant manager Engr. Asiel Nils Castillon talked about the products that they make using mangosteen.
“Our mangosteen capsules are our top-selling products. We also have coffee mixes, including the mangosteen coffee where we use stevia as sweetener,” he said.
The capsules are produced using mangosteen pericarp, according to Castillon. Meanwhile, the leaves are made into other products like tea and a ready-to-drink juice called “Mangosteen Twist” that is also mixed with calamansi and lemongrass.
Dr. Alfred’s Essentials, Inc. also produces mangosteen puree that can be mixed into jam and ice cream. They are also planning to explore how mangosteen pericarp can be used in making flour and in improving the shelf life of meat products.
In 2017, the company started processing mangosteen after harvesting around 120 tons of the fruit in their 30-hectare farm in Brgy. Birada, Kidapawan City, Cotabato. It was around that time that the owner, Dr. Alfredo Villarico, was able to develop mangosteen capsules which are usually taken as food supplement.
Aside from their processing activities, Castillon also talked about some of their practices in growing mangosteen. He added that, as a Learning Site of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), they also share their knowledge on mangosteen production and processing with other interested individuals.
Castillon’s interview was aired on the ATI’s teleradyo program, “Agri Asenso”, on DZRH last July 22, 2023. The full episode, hosted by DZRH's Sherwin Alfaro and ATI Assistant Director Antonieta Arceo, is available at https://web.facebook.com/ATIinteractive/videos/611948027706793/.
