Why mangosteen, the viral TikTok fruit, is so expensive

Buying a little over a kilo of fresh mangosteens in the United States can set you back nearly $80. This delicate fruit needs specific environmental conditions to grow. Picking the mangosteens at the perfect moment is crucial to ensure optimal flavor and texture, adding to the complexity of harvesting. The US banned imports of mangosteens from its largest producers — countries like Thailand and Indonesia. Even though the commercial supply of mangosteen has spiked since then, it still doesn't meet today's demand. We went to Kerala, India, to see how mangosteen is grown and discover what makes it so expensive.