The rambutan is a medium-sized tropical tree in the family Sapindaceae. The fruit produced by the tree is also known as “rambutan.”
The fruit is a round to oval drupe 3–6 cm (rarely to 8 cm) tall and 3–4 cm broad, borne in a loose pendant cluster of 10–20 together. The leathery skin is reddish (rarely orange or yellow), and covered with fleshy pliable spines, hence the name rambutan, derived from the Malay word rambut, which means hairs. The fruit flesh is translucent, whitish or very pale pink, with a sweet, mildly acidic flavor very reminiscent of grapes.
In Vietnam, rambutan is grown most in Vinh Long Province, during rainy season.
