Rambutan

A tropical fruit of the soapberry family, Nephelium lappaceum, native to Southeast Asia, with a spiky red or yellow rind enclosing translucent, sweet-tart white flesh around a central seed. Eaten fresh out of hand, it is juicy and refreshing, and it is also canned in syrup, made into jams, and used in desserts. Selection favors firm, brightly colored fruit with supple spines; dull, darkened spines signal age. Like its relatives lychee and longan, it is perishable and best kept cool, and processors can it promptly after harvest to preserve texture and flavor for distant markets.