Rambutan – Southeast Asian Fruit

rambutan

If you’ve noticed a soft & spiky, deep colored, egg-shaped fruit with thick ‘hairs’, it’s not something from another planet. Chances are you’re looking at a rambutan, and it’s one of my favorite fruits.

Rambutan is a Southeast Asian fruit, and is related to the lychee and longan fruits.

What does it taste like? It’s curiously sweet with citrus notes, and sort of has a sweet-sour taste. The flesh is white and semi-translucent in color, and very juicy. On hot days they are a thirst quencher. Our kids go crazy for these, although whether it is from their appearance or flavor, I’m not sure. It’s probably a little bit of both. The flesh is surrounded by a smooth seed that’s brown in color.

How to eat them: just peel the skin – which is a little thick and leathery. The spikes on the outside are soft and hairy rather than pointy so they are easy to carry and peel.

Images below are courtesy USDA.

rambutan Rambutan_Fruit