Rambutan

tropical fruit · Southeast Asia · sweet

Hairy fruit name. Rambutan gets its name from the Malay word for hair, because the fruit has long, hair-like spines sticking out all over it. The funny-looking spikes are actually soft and harmless.

Sweet white flesh inside. Under all those hairs is a translucent white fruit with a sweet, mild flavor and a large seed in the center. It's similar to a lychee but usually bigger and juicier.

Southeast Asia native. Rambutans grow wild in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, where they've been eaten and farmed for hundreds of years. Today they're grown in tropical regions all around the world.

Medium-sized tree. A rambutan tree can grow 20 to 40 feet tall and lives in warm, wet tropical climates. A healthy tree can produce plenty of fruit each year when it's well cared for.

Family of tropical fruits. Rambutans are related to lychees, longans, and pulsans, all part of the same plant family called Sapindaceae. These cousin fruits are all tropical, have big seeds, and taste sweet and juicy.