What is rambutan?
Rambutan is the edible fruits of the rambutan tree- a medium-sized tropical tree. The tree is commonly grown in various countries throughout tropical Southeast Asia, but it is the most well-known as a specialty of Vietnam.
It has an exotic exterior with the round to oval shape and covered with fleshy pliable spines outside. Although the spines look sharp, they are definitely soft. The spines help transpire the water, which can affect the fruit’s quality outside. When the fruit is ripe, its skin becomes red.
The fruit flesh is translucent, whitish with a sweet, mildly acidic flavor.
Planting area
Derived from the humid tropical Southeast Asia, the rambutan is one of the best-known fruits of the region. On the other hand, the tree is also widely grown in the tropics including Africa, the Caribbean islands, Panama, Costa Rica, India, Honduras, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and the island of Puerto Rico.
Nutritional value
The rambutan fruit concludes many different vitamins and minerals.
The total amount of calories in 100g rambutan meat up to 82kcal.
In 100 grams of flesh, there are around 1.3–2 grams of fiber which are similar to what our body gets when consuming the same quantity of apples, oranges or pears.
This fruit is also an abundant supply of vitamin C- a nutrient helps absorb dietary iron more easily. Also, vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, protecting our body’s cells against damage. Daily eating 5–6 rambutans will meet 50% of your daily vitamin C needs.
Furthermore, rambutan fruits offer copper. This mineral plays an important role in the growth and maintenance of various cells, including those of your bones, brain, and heart.
On the other hand, it contains a significant amount of potassium, manganese, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc as well. Eating 100 grams of fruit equivalent to about four fruits that will satisfy 20% of our daily copper needs and about 2–6% of the daily recommended amount of the other nutrients.
How to eat?
The skin and the seed are inedible, so removing them is necessary. The fruit flesh is very great. It can be directly consumed. Its flavor is similar to the lychee fruit, longan… but slightly more tart. It is considered a snack. Also, the rambutan also delicious muddled into cocktails or paired with other fruits in a tropical salad.
Where to buy rambutan?
It’s no coincidence that Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam is famous for rambutan. The humid tropical climate of Vietnam is very favorable for the growth and development of rambutan. As a result, the fruit here has the best quality ever. For more details, please feel free to contact us via info@freshexotic.co
Visit Us
- 92/14/10 Street No.2, Truong Tho ward, Thu Duc district, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam
- info@freshexotic.co
- (+84) 283 620 7898