General Information
Rambutan are closely related to the lychee, the tropical Rambutan, pronounced ram-BYU-tn, varies in type and quality. The fruit may be greenish-yellow, orange or crimson, are oval-shaped and usually 1 – 2 inches long. The soft, flexible exterior shell is covered in stiff, hair-like bristles. While the exterior makes it seem larger than the lychee, the inner fruit is actually smaller. Rambutan flesh is juicy, milky- white, translucent in color, with a grape-like, gelatinous texture surrounding a central seed with and almond-like taste. The flavor of a Rambutan is more acidic than the lychee, sweet and very aromatic.
History
Rambutan is most commonly grown in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. The fruit is grown for export in Australia, Sri Lanka, Central America and Vietnam. Cultivation of Rambutan is considered too fragile for the mainland United States.
