Rambutan is a Southeast Asian fruit that grows on trees and produces two crops per year. Some trees are male, some are female, and some are hermaphroditic. The fruit is sweet and covered in soft spikes, with a large seed in the center that is poisonous. Rambutan is difficult to grow in the US but is becoming more popular in Australia. It is often eaten fresh or used to make preserves, and some cultures use the roots for alternative medicine.
Rambutan (Nephelium Lappaceum) is a fruit grown mainly in Southeast Asia and is a cousin of longan and lychee. It grows on trees that are 10-20 feet (3.05-6.1 m) tall. Trees are popular in landscaping because they are evergreen.
Rambutan produces two crops each year, a smaller crop in mid-spring and a larger crop in late fall. Not all rambutan trees produce crops, because some trees are male. Some trees are hermaphroditic, producing both male and female flowers, while others are exclusively female. The hermaphrodite tree is the most valuable.
Rambutan flowers have a sweet aroma and are often used in flower arrangements. They are white or green in color and there is a difference between the male and female flower. Cross pollination is required in female trees or else the tree will not produce fruit. However, bees are attracted to the quality of nectar in rambutan blooms, so this generally doesn’t pose significant problems in a large orchard.
Rambutan is a sweet fruit that most palates find appealing. 10 to 20 fruits will grow in clusters. Their outward appearance looks a bit foreboding, as it is covered in spikes. The spikes, however, are soft and will not harm anyone who touches or handles the rambutan.
The outside of rambutan can be orange to deep red in color. Each fruit is small, usually no longer than 5 cm. The inside can be white or light pink. A large seed, similar to the seed of a peach or plum, marks the center of the fruit. The seed should be discarded, as it is poisonous.
Rambutan is often eaten as a dessert, served simply fresh and raw. However, some use rambutan to make preserves or jellies. Some cultures also use the roots of rambutan trees for alternative medicines.
Although rambutan is quite difficult to grow in the United States, Australia started growing the fruit in the 1990s. Occasionally, a stockpile of rambutan can be found in Asian markets in the United States. Usually, rambutan has to be ordered online or bought canned.
As rambutan proliferates in Australia, top chefs will no doubt develop other recipes for it. One such recipe, Rambutan Glazed Ham, also includes wine, pineapple, and lychee. However, without many recipes, rambutan is still highly regarded as it is.
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