Rambutan

" " Rambutans start out green then ripen to red, orange or yellow, depending on the species. Tran Vu Quang Duy/Getty Images You have to admire the first person who had the nerve to eat a rambutan. The small, round or oval fruit — which looks a lot like a rambut" meaning " Rambutans are about 1 to 2 inches (3 to 5 centimeters) in diameter. They start out green then ripen to red, orange or yellow, depending on the species. The rind is firm and leathery, and covered in soft spines called "spinterns." Rambutans grow in clusters of 10 to 20 fruit. However, the fruits are delicate and are easily bruised. They must be carefully harvested by hand. Lacking good refrigeration, rambutans have a short shelf life. They typically need to get to market within three days of harvesting. So how can you tell whether you have a fresh rambutan? But what do these funky fruits taste like? "The flavor is like an exotic grape, but much more perfumed," Van Aken says. "To eat them, take your fingernail or a paring knife and peel back the thin exterior (beneath the spines). Pull that back and the grape-like looking fruit is revealed. Take care to get rid of any of that 'bark' as it is bitter." Rambutans have a center pit, like a cherry. Cut them carefully and discard the pit — it's inedible. Rambutans make tasty additions to salads, smoothies and desserts. They can also be used in drinks, mocktails and cocktails, or as an ingredient in dessert syrups. Van Aken uses rambutans or their cousins, peeled ...

One of the great things about gardening is the sheer amount of choice you have for planting. As long as you live in the right kind of environment, you can try growing less common but fabulous heat-loving fruits like rambutan. It’s a decision you will definitely not regret once you bite into this sublime treat. Although rambutan is not a well-known fruit in the US, if you like lychee, you will love the taste of this exceptional fruit. They’re becoming more popular to grow in many warmer regions. Ready to join the rambutan movement? What is Rambutan? Rambutan ( Nephelium lappaceum) is a member of the soapstone family and is native to Malaysia. It’s an evergreen that can grow up to 80 feet tall and is cultivated in countries like India, Thailand, Burma, and Sri Lanka where they are as common as apples are in western countries. High in vitamin C, iron, and antioxidants, the sweet and sometimes slightly sour flavor will surprise you as much as the appearance of the fruit itself. “Rambut” is a Malay word meaning “hairy,” which certainly describes the fruit’s appearance. Inside is a sweet white flesh that makes for a tasty snack. Don’t worry, though. While the exterior may look spiny, the spikes are actually soft and the skin is easy to peel away. Best Varieties of Rambutan Rambutans come in a variety of colors, primarily red or yellow-skinned. Red varieties generally ripen first and are medium-sized. The yellow varieties usually ripen later and are a little smaller. Red rambutan...

• Calories: 123 • Fat: 0.3g • Sodium: 16.5mg • Carbohydrates: 31.3g • Fiber: 1.4g • Sugars: Not specified • Protein: 1g • Manganese: 0.5mg • Copper: 0.1mg Carbs Like most fruits, rambutans are primarily composed of carbohydrates. There are 31 grams of carbs in a cup of canned rambutan, with 1.4 grams coming from fiber. The USDA does not currently list sugar content for rambutan; however, a portion of its total carbohydrates is attributed to Vitamins and Minerals Rambutan provides manganese, copper, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, folate, and vitamin A. It is not very high in many vitamins or minerals, containing the highest levels of manganese and copper. A one-cup provides 22% of daily recommended manganese and 11% of copper based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet. May Support Cancer Prevention Rambutan contains several antioxidants, including anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, and methanolic compounds. Although no long-term human studies have confirmed the anti-cancer effects of rambutan, antioxidants in fruits and vegetables have long been associated with cancer prevention. Choosing unprocessed rambutan (fresh over canned) provides the greatest concentration of antioxidants. Promotes Bone Health To some extent, bone loss is inevitable with age. However, healthy eating and physical activity make it possible to reduce the rate and severity of this issue. Higher intakes of fruit, like rambutan, are associated with greater bone mineral density, likely due to the effe...