With a lifelong interest in botanicals due to a family that emphasized natural health, Joe Morton is always on the lookout for natural plants, fruits and herbs waiting to be discovered. Years ago, while running operations for a dietary supplement company in South East Asia, Joe’s mangosteen discovery found him.
In a quaint café after a light meal, Joe was offered a taste of fruit for dessert. The mangosteen fruit was about the size of a peach with a dark purple rind, while the inside of the fruit was white, making it the most beautiful fruit imaginable. Joe had never seen anything comparable and was told it only ripens twice a year and is highly valued. He knew he had stumbled upon something great. The taste was remarkable with a sensation both sweet and slightly tart. He couldn’t believe the flavor. After traveling the world, Joe had experienced hundreds of botanicals. He had delved into all kinds of flavors and tastes that are unusual and even disagreeable. This fruit was different. The first time he tasted it, he fell in love.
Most of the natives termed the mangosteen historically as the "Queen of Fruits." Joe sought out those familiar with mangosteen folklore and learned that, while the fruit is valued for its flavor, the rind or pericarp has been used traditionally for generations. The ancient legends engaged Joe. With respect to native tradition, he wanted to know if any studies were conducted to add credence to the revered mangosteen.
Joe launched an informal research team that utilized libraries, documents and scientific experts. His brothers Gordon and David and a colleague, Aaron Garrity, joined him on the path of investigation. While the mangosteen may have been unknown to Western taste buds, a significant volume of scientific research had been conducted by credible researchers on the fruit and the pericarp in Asia. The team soon had an overwhelming stack of academic documents and published scientific studies. They learned that scientists knew the mangosteen was a rich source of an incredibly powerful phytonutrient compound called xanthones that has been scrutinized by research teams for potential benefits. Joe’s team uncovered more information on the mangosteen fruit and its pericarp, but absolutely nothing in regards to marketed products.
How could a fruit like the mangosteen, so heavenly delicious and rich in antioxidant properties be so unknown to most of the world? Why aren’t there all kinds of mangosteen supplements out there? Somebody had to be the first.
The story of XanGo begins with a chance encounter fulfilled by a choice to create a new category and bring the mangosteen to consumers worldwide. The team soon founded XanGo and referenced decades of research to develop a proprietary formula and create a singular dietary supplement with a sensational taste.
