View source for Rambutan

{{Short description|Southeast Asian fruit}}
{{About|the tree|the cipher|Rambutan (cryptography)}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Rambutan
| image = Rambutan white background alt.jpg
| image_alt = A fuzzy red fruit and a clear circular fruit
| image_caption = Unpeeled and peeled rambutan fruit
| image2 = Rambutans_by_Muhammad_Mahdi_Karim.jpg
| image2_caption = Rambutan fruits
| image2_alt = A bundle of fuzzy red fruits on woody stems
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |last=Barstow |first=M. |date=2017 |title=''Nephelium lappaceum'' |volume=2017 | article-number=e.T33266A67808476 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T33266A67808476.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Nephelium
| species = lappaceum
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]<ref>{{ITIS|id=506073|taxon=Nephelium lappaceum|access-date =18 September 2010}}</ref>
| synonyms = {{collapsible list| <!-- not all -->
* ''Dimocarpus crinitus'' <small>Lour.</small> 
* ''Euphoria glabra''  <small>Blume</small>
* ''Euphoria nephelium'' <small>DC.</small>
* ''Nephelium obovatum''  <small>Ridl.</small>
* ''Nephelium pallens''  <small>Radlk.</small>
* ''Nephelium rambutan''  <small>Schnizl.</small>
* ''Scytalia crinita'' <small>Raeusch.</small>
* ''Scytalia rimosa'' <small>Roxb.</small> }}
| synonyms_ref= <ref name="WFO">{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=''Nephelium lappaceum'' L. |url=http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000381268#synonyms |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=World Flora Online |publisher=World Flora Consortium}}</ref>

}}
'''Rambutan''' ({{IPAc-en|r|æ|m|ˈ|b|uː|t|ə|n}} {{respell|ram|BOO|tən}}; {{IPA|id|rambutan}};'''''Nephelium lappaceum''''') is a medium-sized tropical tree in the family [[Sapindaceae]].<ref name="WFO" /> The name also refers to the edible fruit produced by this tree. The rambutan is native to Southeast Asia.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> It is closely related to several other edible [[tropical fruit]]s, including the [[lychee]], [[longan]], [[pulasan]], and [[quenepa]].<ref name="morton">{{Cite book |last=Morton |first=J. F. |url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/rambutan.html |title=Fruits of Warm Climates |date=1987 |publisher=Center for New Crops & Plant Products, Purdue University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture |location=West Lafayette, Indiana, USA |pages=262–265}}</ref><ref name="rambutan">{{Cite web |title=The Rambutan Information Website |url=http://rambutan.com |access-date=25 June 2011 |publisher=Panoramic Fruit Farm, Puerto Rico}}</ref>

== Description ==
It is an [[evergreen]] tree growing to a height of {{cvt|15|–|24|m|0}}.<ref name="rambutan" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Amy |date=19 April 2021 |title=Rambutan Growing Tips: Learn About Rambutan Tree Care |url=https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/rambutan/rambutan-growing-tips.htm |access-date=22 July 2022 |publisher=Gardening Know How}}</ref> The leaves are alternate, {{cvt|14|–|30|cm|0}} long, [[Pinnation|pinnate]], with three to eleven leaflets, each leaflet {{cvt|5|–|15|cm|0}} wide and {{cvt|3|–|10|cm}} broad with an entire margin.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

The flowers are small, {{cvt|2.5|–|5|mm|1}}, [[wikt:apetalous|apetalous]], [[wikt:discoidal|discoidal]], and borne in erect terminal [[panicle]]s {{cvt|15|–|30|cm|0}} wide.<ref name="rambutan" /> Rambutan trees can be male (producing only [[wikt:staminate|staminate]] flowers and, hence, produce no fruit), female (producing flowers that are only functionally female), or [[hermaphroditic]] (producing flowers that are female with a small percentage of male flowers).{{cn|date=August 2024}}

=== Fruit ===
The fruit is a round to oval single-seeded [[drupe]], {{cvt|3|–|6|cm|frac=4}} long, rarely to {{cvt|8|cm|frac=4}} long and {{cvt|3|–|4|cm|frac=4}} broad, borne in a loose pendant cluster of ten to twenty fruits together. The leathery skin is reddish (rarely orange or yellow) and covered with fleshy pliable spines, hence the name, which means 'hairs'. The spines (also known as "spinterns") contribute to the [[transpiration]] of the fruit, which can affect the fruit's quality.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Arévalo Galarza |first1=M.L. |last2=Caballero Pérez |first2=J.F. |last3=Valdovinos Ponce |first3=G. |last4=Cadena Íñiguez |first4=J. |last5=Avendaño Arrazate |first5=C.H. |date=March 2018 |title=Growth and histological development of the fruit pericarp in rambutan (''Nephelium lappaceum'' Linn.) |journal=Acta Horticulturae |issue=1194 |pages=165–172 |doi=10.17660/actahortic.2018.1194.25 |issn=0567-7572}}</ref>

The fruit flesh, the [[aril]], is translucent, whitish, or very pale pink, with a sweet, mildly acidic flavor reminiscent of [[grape]]s.<ref name="rambutan" />

The single seed is glossy brown, {{cvt|1|–|1.3|cm|frac=8}}, with a white [[wikt:basal|basal]] scar.<ref name="rambutan" /> Soft and containing equal portions of [[saturated fat|saturated]] and [[unsaturated fats]], the seed may be cooked and eaten, but is bitter and has [[narcotic]] properties.<ref name="Tindall1994" />{{rp|14}}<ref name=manaf/>

== History ==
Around the 13th to 15th centuries, Arab traders, who played a major role in [[Indian Ocean trade]], introduced rambutans to [[Zanzibar]] and [[Pemba, Mozambique|Pemba]] in [[East Africa]].<ref name="morton" /> There are limited rambutan plantings in some parts of India. In the 19th century, the Dutch introduced rambutans from [[Indonesia]] in Southeast Asia, to [[Suriname]] in South America. Subsequently, the plants spread to the tropical Americas, planted in the coastal lowlands of Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Trinidad, and Cuba. In 1912, rambutans were introduced to the Philippines from Indonesia.<ref name="morton" /> Further introductions were made in 1920 (from Indonesia) and 1930 (from Malaya), but until the 1950s its distribution was limited.<ref name="morton" />

There was an attempt to introduce rambutans to the [[Southeastern United States]], with seeds imported from [[Java]], Indonesia in 1906, but the species proved to be unsuccessful,<ref name="morton" /> except in [[Puerto Rico]].<ref name="rambutan" />

=== Etymology ===
The name ''rambutan'' is derived from the [[Malay language|Malay]] word {{lang|ms|rambut}} meaning 'hair' referring to the numerous hairy protuberances of the fruits, together with the noun-building [[suffix]] {{lang|ms|-an}}.<ref name="morton" /><ref name="rambutan" /> Similarly, in [[Vietnam]], they are called {{lang|vi|chôm chôm}} (meaning 'messy hair').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vietnamese tropical fruit |date=8 May 2012 |url=https://www.itchyfeetonthecheap.com/2012/05/08/vietnamese-tropical-fruit-and-how-to-eat-it/ |access-date=7 October 2012}}</ref>{{better source|date=May 2023|reason=The hairdo is named after the fruit, not the other way around.}} The Chinese name is {{lang-zh|s=红毛丹}} ([[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] ''hóngmáodān'', [[Hokkien]] ''âng-mô͘-tan''), literally 'red-haired pellet'.<ref>{{Cite book |author1=Siong Kiat Tan |url=https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/lkcnhm-e-books/LKCNHM-EBOOK-2019-0001.pdf |title=Minnan (Hokkien) Botanical Names Used in Singapore |author2=Keng Soon Chua |author3=Kok Peng Lim |publisher=University of Singapore |year=2019}}</ref>

== Composition ==
{{nutritional value
| name=Rambutan, canned, syrup pack
| image=Rambutans with seed.jpg
| kJ=343
| water=78.3 g
| protein=0.65 g
| fat=0.21 g
| carbs=20.87 g
| fiber=0.9 g
| calcium_mg=22
| iron_mg=0.35
| magnesium_mg=7
| phosphorus_mg=9
| potassium_mg=42
| sodium_mg=11
| zinc_mg=0.08
| manganese_mg=0.343
| vitC_mg=4.9
| thiamin_mg=0.013
| riboflavin_mg=0.022
| niacin_mg=1.352
| vitB6_mg=0.02
| folate_ug=8
| source_usda = 1
| note=[https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/168167/nutrients Link to USDA Database entry]
}}
[[Image:Rambutans.JPG|thumb|right|A cluster of yellowish rambutan]]
=== Nutrients ===
Rambutan fruit is 78% water, 21% [[carbohydrate]]s, 1% [[protein (nutrient)|protein]], and has negligible [[fat]] (see table; data are for canned fruit in syrup; raw fruit data are unpublished). In a reference amount of {{cvt|100|g}}, the canned fruit supplies 82 [[calorie]]s and only [[manganese]] at 15% of the [[Daily Value]] (DV), while other [[micronutrient]]s are in low content (less than 10% DV, table).

=== Phytochemicals ===
As an un-pigmented fruit [[flesh]], rambutan does not contain significant [[polyphenol]] content,<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Gorinstein S, Zemser M, Haruenkit R, Chuthakorn R, Grauer F, Martín Belloso O, Trakhtenberg S |year=1999 |title=Comparative content of total polyphenols and dietary fiber in tropical fruits and persimmon |journal=Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry |volume=10 |issue=6 |pages=367–371 |doi=10.1016/s0955-2863(99)00017-0 |pmid=15539312}}</ref> but its colorful [[peel (fruit)|rind]] displays diverse [[phenolic acid]]s, such as [[syringic acid|syringic]], [[coumaric acid|coumaric]], [[gallic acid|gallic]], [[caffeic acid|caffeic]], and [[ellagic acid]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Thitilertdecha N, Teerawutgulrag A, Kilburn JD, Rakariyatham N |year=2010 |title=Identification of major phenolic compounds from ''Nephelium lappaceum'' L. and their antioxidant activities |journal=Molecules |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=1453–1465 |doi=10.3390/molecules15031453 |pmc=6257335 |pmid=20335993 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Sun L, Zhang H, Zhuang Y |year=2012 |title=Preparation of free, soluble conjugate, and insoluble-bound phenolic compounds from peels of rambutans (''Nephelium lappaceum'') and evaluation of antioxidant activities in vitro |journal=Journal of Food Science |volume=77 |issue=2 |pages=C198–C204 |doi=10.1111/j.1750-3841.2011.02548.x |pmid=22250923}}</ref> Rambutan seeds contain equal proportions of [[saturated fat|saturated]] and [[unsaturated fat|unsaturated]] [[fatty acids]], where [[arachidic acid|arachidic]] (34%) and [[oleic acid|oleic]] (42%) acids, respectively, are the highest in fat content.<ref name="manaf">{{Cite journal |vauthors=Manaf YN, Marikkar JM, Long K, Ghazali HM |year=2013 |title=Physico-chemical characterisation of the fat from red-skin rambutan (''Nephellium lappaceum'' L.) seed |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jos/62/6/62_335/_pdf |journal=Journal of Oleo Science |volume=62 |issue=6 |pages=335–343 |doi=10.5650/jos.62.335 |pmid=23728324 |doi-access=free|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The pleasant [[aroma compound|fragrance]] of rambutan fruit derives from numerous [[volatile organic compound]]s, including [[beta-damascenone]], [[vanillin]], [[phenylacetic acid]], and [[cinnamic acid]].<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Ong PK, Acree TE, Lavin EH |year=1998 |title=Characterization of Volatiles in Rambutan Fruit (''Nephelium lappaceum'' L.) |journal=Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=611–615 |doi=10.1021/jf970665t |pmid=10554286|bibcode=1998JAFC...46..611O }}</ref>

== Ecology ==
=== Pollination ===
Aromatic rambutan flowers are highly attractive to many insects, especially bees. Flies (Diptera), bees ([[Hymenoptera]]), and ants (''[[Solenopsis (ant)|Solenopsis]]'') are the main pollinators. Among the Diptera, ''[[Lucilia (fly)|Lucilia]]'' spp. are abundant, and among the Hymenoptera, [[honey bee]]s (''[[Apis dorsata]]'' and ''[[Apis cerana|A. cerana]]'') and the [[stingless bee]] genus ''[[Trigona (genus)|Trigona]]'' are the major visitors.<ref name="rambutan" /> ''A. cerana'' colonies foraging on rambutan flowers produce large quantities of [[honey]]. Bees foraging for nectar routinely contact the [[stigma (flower)|stigma]] of female flowers and gather significant quantities of the sticky pollen from male blossoms. Little pollen has been seen on bees foraging female flowers. Although male flowers open at 06:00, foraging by ''A. cerana'' is most intense between 07:00 and 11:00, tapering off rather abruptly thereafter. In Thailand, ''A. cerana'' is the preferred species for small-scale pollination of rambutan. Its hair is also helpful in pollination where pollen can be hooked on and transported to female flowers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339470470 | title=Pollination studies in rambutan Nephelium lappaceum in Soconusco Chiapas Mexico | website=ResearchGate | access-date=April 27, 2025}}</ref>

== Varieties ==
Well over 200 [[cultivar]]s were developed from selected clones available throughout tropical Asia.<ref name=morton/> Most of the cultivars are also selected for compact growth, reaching a height of only {{cvt|3|–|5|m|0}} for easier harvesting.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Compared to propagated rambutan clones, rambutans taken from the wild have a higher acidity and potential for various food purposes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kong |first1=Fei Chai |last2=Mohd Adzahan |first2=Noranizan |last3=Karim |first3=Roselina |last4=Rukayadi |first4=Yaya |last5=Mohd Ghazali |first5=Hasanah |date=2018-07-31 |title=Selected Physicochemical Properties of Registered Clones and Wild Types Rambutan (''Nephelium lappaceum'' L.) Fruits and Their Potentials in Food Products |journal=Sains Malaysiana |volume=47 |issue=7 |pages=1483–1490 |doi=10.17576/jsm-2018-4707-16 |issn=0126-6039 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In Indonesia, 22 rambutan cultivars were identified as good quality, with five as leading commercial cultivars: 'Binjai', 'Lebak Bulus', 'Rapiah', 'Cimacan' and 'Sinyonya', with other popular cultivars including 'Simacan', 'Silengkeng', 'Sikonto' and 'Aceh kuning'.<ref name=morton/> In the [[Malay Peninsula]], commercial varieties include 'Chooi Ang', 'Peng Thing Bee', 'Ya Tow', 'Azimat', and 'Ayer Mas'.<ref name=morton/>

In Nicaragua, a joint World Relief–European Union team distributed seedlings to organizations such as Ascociación Pueblos en Acción Comunitaria in 2001 to more than 100 farmers.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} Some of these farmers saw the first production of rambutans from their trees in 2005–2006 with development directed at the local market.

In the Philippines, two cultivars of rambutans are distinguished by their seed.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} The common rambutan seed and fruit are difficult to separate, while the 'Maharlika Rambutan' fruit separates cleanly from its seed. The fruit taste and size of these two cultivars are identical, but the 'Maharlika Rambutan' is more popular with a higher price.

== Uses ==
=== Culinary ===
The fruit of the rambutan tree may be eaten raw by removing the peel, eating the pulp, and discarding the seed. Rambutan is most often used in desserts, such as sorbets and puddings, but also in [[curry|curries]] and savory dishes. The flavor is similar to lychee and pairs well with other tropical fruits.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

== Cultivation ==
Rambutans are adapted to warm tropical climates, around {{cvt|22|–|30|°C}}, and are sensitive to temperatures below {{cvt|10|°C}}.<ref name="rambutan" /> It is grown commercially within 12–15° of the equator.<ref name="IICA">{{Cite book |year=1994 |chapter=Third Regional Workshop on Tropical Fruits |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9zlkAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA85 |title=IICA's Contribution to the Agricultural Sector in Trinidad and Tobago During |publisher=Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura |page=86 |issn=0253-4746}}</ref> The trees grow well at elevations up to {{convert|500|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level and do best in deep soil, clay loam, or sandy loam rich in organic matter. They grow on hilly terrain where there is good drainage.<ref name="IICA" />

Rambutans are propagated by [[grafting]],<ref name="IICA" /> [[air-layering]],<ref name="IICA" /> and [[budding]]. Budded trees may fruit after two to three years with optimum production occurring after eight to ten years. Trees grown from seed bear after five to six years.

The aril is attached to the seed in some commercial cultivars, but "freestone" [[cultivar]]s are available and in high demand. Usually, a single light brown seed is found, which is high in certain fats and oils (primarily [[oleic acid]] and [[arachidic acid]])<ref name="manaf" /> valuable to industry, and used in cooking and the manufacture of [[soap]]. Rambutan roots, bark, and leaves have various uses in [[traditional medicine]]<ref name=morton/> and in the production of dyes.
[[Image:Rambutan Before Ripening.jpg|thumb|left|Rambutan before ripening]]
{{Css Image Crop
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 |bSize = 272
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In some areas, rambutan trees can bear fruit twice annually, once in late fall and early winter, with a shorter season in late spring and early summer.<ref name="morton" /> Other areas, such as Costa Rica, have a single fruit season, with the start of the rainy season in April stimulating flowering, and the fruit is usually ripe in August and September. The fragile fruit must ripen on the tree, then they are harvested over a four- to seven-week period. The fresh fruit are easily bruised and have a limited shelf life. An average tree may produce 5,000–6,000 or more fruit ({{cvt|60|–|70|kg|round=5|disp=or}} per tree).<ref name="morton" /> Yields begin at {{convert|1.2|t/ha|ST/acre|abbr=off}} in young orchards and may reach {{convert|20|t/ha|ST/acre|abbr=off}} on mature trees. In [[Hawaii]], {{convert|24|ha|acre}} of {{convert|38|ha|acre|adj=pre|cultivated}} were harvested producing {{convert|120|t|ST}} of fruit in 1997. Yields could be increased by improved orchard management, including pollination, and by planting high-yielding compact cultivars.<ref name="morton" />

Most commercial cultivars are hermaphroditic; cultivars that produce only functionally female flowers require the presence of male trees.<ref name="morton" /> Male trees are seldom found, as vegetative selection has favored hermaphroditic clones that produce a high proportion of functionally female flowers and a much lower number of flowers that produce [[pollen]]. Over 3,000 greenish-white flowers occur in male panicles, each with five to seven anthers and a nonfunctional ovary. Male flowers have yellow nectaries and five to seven stamens. About 500 greenish-yellow flowers occur in each hermaphroditic panicle. Each flower has six anthers, usually a bilobed stigma, and one ovule in each of its two sections ([[locule]]s).<ref name="rambutan" /> The flowers are receptive for about one day but may persist if pollinators are excluded.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

In Thailand, rambutan trees were first planted in [[Surat Thani Province|Surat Thani]] in 1926 by the Chinese Malay K. Vong in [[Amphoe Ban Na San|Ban Na San]]. An annual rambutan fair is held during August harvest time.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Agar |first1=Charles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3wG5lM88rdAC&pg=PA158 |title=Frommer's Southeast Asia |last2=Eveland |first2=Jennifer |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-7645-7829-8 |page=158 |access-date=18 September 2010}}</ref>

In Malaysia, rambutan flowers from March to July and again between June and November, usually in response to rain following a dry period. Flowering periods differ for other localities. Most, but not all, flowers open early in the day. Up to 100 flowers in each female panicle may be open each day during peak bloom. The initial fruit set may approach 25 percent, but a high abortion level contributes to a much lower level of production at harvest (1 to 3 percent). The fruit matures 15 to 18 weeks after flowering.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Rambutan cultivation in Sri Lanka mainly consists of small home gardens. [[Malwana]], a village in the [[Kelani River]] Valley, is popular for its rambutan orchards. Their production comes to market in May, June, and July when it is very common to observe seasonal traders along the streets of [[Colombo]]. Sri Lanka also has some off-season rambutan production in January and February in areas such as [[Bibile]], [[Medagama]], and [[Monaragala]].{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Both male and female flowers are faintly sweet-scented and have functional nectaries at the ovary base. Female flowers produce two to three times more [[nectar]] than male flowers. Nectar sugar concentration ranges between 18–47 percent and is similar between the flower types. Rambutans are an important [[nectar source]] for bees in Malaysia.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Cross-pollination is a necessity because the anther is absent in most functionally female flowers. Although [[apomixis]] may occur in some cultivars, rambutans, like lychee, are dependent upon insects for pollination. In Malaysia, where only about one percent of the female flowers set fruit, no fruit is set on bagged flowers while hand pollination resulted in a 13 percent fruit set. Pollinators may maintain fidelity to either male or hermaphroditic flowers (trees), thus limiting pollination and fruit set under natural conditions where crossing between male and female flowers is required.

=== Production ===
[[File:PakJawa.jpg|thumb|right|[[Javanese people|Javanese]] rambutan seller in [[Semarang]], Indonesia]]
Rambutan is a fruit tree cultivated in humid tropical Southeast Asia.<ref name=morton/><ref name="FruiTrop">{{Cite magazine |last=Le Bellec |first=F. |date=June 2014 |title=Rambutan: The hairy cousin from the tropics |url=https://www.fruitrop.com/en/Articles-by-subject/Agronomy/2014/Rambutan |access-date=11 July 2019 |magazine=FruiTrop |publisher=[[Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement|CIRAD]] |pages=28–33 |issue=223}}</ref> It is a common garden fruit tree and propagated commercially in small [[orchard]]s. It is one of the best-known fruits of Southeast Asia and is also widely cultivated elsewhere in the tropics including Africa, southern Mexico, the Caribbean islands, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, India, Vietnam, Philippines, and Sri Lanka.<ref name=morton/> It is also produced in Ecuador where it is known as ''achotillo,'' and on the island of [[Puerto Rico]].<ref name="rambutan" />

{{asof|2014}}, Thailand was the largest producer of rambutans ({{langx|th|เงาะ}}, {{RTGS|''ngo''}}),<ref name=FruiTrop/> growing 450,000 [[tonne]]s, followed by Indonesia at 100,000 tonnes, and Malaysia, 60,000 tonnes.<ref name=FruiTrop/> In Thailand, the major cultivation centers are [[Chanthaburi Province]], followed by [[Chumphon Province]] and [[Surat Thani Province]].<ref name=FruiTrop/> In Indonesia, the production center of rambutan is in the western parts of Indonesia, which includes [[Java]], [[Sumatra]], and [[Kalimantan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=R. Poerwanto |title=Rambutan and Longan Production in Indonesia |url=http://www.actahort.org/books/665/665_9.htm |access-date=11 July 2015 |publisher=ISHS Acta Horticulturae 665: II International Symposium on Lychee, Longan, Rambutan and other Sapindaceae Plants}}</ref> In Java, the orchards and ''[[pekarangan]]'' (habitation yards) in the villages of [[Greater Jakarta]] and [[West Java]] have been known as rambutan production centers since [[Dutch East Indies|the colonial era]], with a trading center in [[Pasar Minggu]], South Jakarta.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

During 2017 and years before, imports of rambutan to the [[European Union]] were about 1,000 [[tonne]]s annually, enabling a year-round supply from numerous tropical suppliers.<ref name="cbi">{{Cite web |date=14 February 2019 |title=Exporting rambutan to Europe |url=https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/fresh-fruit-vegetables/rambutan |access-date=24 February 2021 |publisher=Centre for the Promotion of Imports, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs}}</ref>

The fruits are usually sold fresh and have a short shelf-life,<ref name=FruiTrop/> and are commonly used in making jams and jellies, or canned. Evergreen rambutan trees with their abundant colored fruit make attractive landscape specimens.<ref name=rambutan/>

In India, rambutan is imported from Thailand,<ref name="tradexport">{{Cite news |last=Shantanu Nandan Sharma |date=2006-05-07 |title=Thailand wants to export Rambutan, longan to India |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2006-05-07/news/27460444_1_thailand-exports-india-and-thailand-export-value |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724175510/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2006-05-07/news/27460444_1_thailand-exports-india-and-thailand-export-value |archive-date=July 24, 2014 |access-date=8 June 2012 |work=The Economic Times}}</ref> as well as grown in [[Pathanamthitta District|the Pathanamthitta District]] of the southern state of [[Kerala]].<ref name="kltncultivate">{{Cite news |last=Kuttoor |first=Radhakrishnan |date=28 June 2009 |title=Farmers taking to Rambutan cultivation |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/28/stories/2009062850460200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524060315/http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/28/stories/2009062850460200.htm |archive-date=24 May 2012 |access-date=8 June 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

Rambutans are not [[climacteric (botany)|climacteric]] fruit—that is, they ripen only on the tree and appear not to produce a ripening agent, such as the [[plant hormone]] [[ethylene as a plant hormone|ethylene]], after being harvested.<ref name="rambutan" /> However, at post-harvest, the quality of the fruit is affected by storage factors. Low humidity levels, storage time, and incidences of mechanical damage can severely affect the quality of the fruit which would negatively affect the demand for such.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Landrigan |first1=M. |last2=Morris |first2=S.C. |last3=Gibb |first3=K.S. |date=June 1996 |title=Relative Humidity Influences Postharvest Browning in Rambutan (''Nephelium lappaceum'' L.) |journal=HortScience |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=417–418 |doi=10.21273/hortsci.31.3.417 |issn=0018-5345 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In general, the fruit has a short shelf life in ambient conditions but implementing methods that can extend such is a productional advantage. Certain treatments like irradiation and the use of hot-forced air can help in fruit preservation although the former has seen more success.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Follett |first1=Peter A. |last2=Sanxter |first2=Suzanne S. |date=December 2000 |title=Comparison of Rambutan Quality after Hot Forced-air and Irradiation Quarantine Treatments |journal=HortScience |volume=35 |issue=7 |pages=1315–1318 |doi=10.21273/hortsci.35.7.1315 |issn=0018-5345 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Distribution ===
The center of genetic diversity for rambutans is the [[Indonesia]]n region.<ref name=morton/> They have been widely cultivated in [[Southeast Asian]] areas, such as [[Malaysia]], [[Thailand]], [[Myanmar]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Indonesia]], [[Singapore]], and [[the Philippines]].<ref name="wind">{{Cite journal |last1=Windarsih |first1=G. |last2=Muhammad |first2=E. |year=2019 |title=Morphological characteristics of flower and fruit in several rambutan (''Nephelium lappaceum'') cultivars in Serang City, Banten, Indonesia |url=https://smujo.id/biodiv/article/view/3857/3211 |journal=Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity |volume=20 |doi=10.13057/biodiv/d200537 |doi-access=free |number=5}}</ref><ref name="Tindall1994">{{Cite book |last=Tindall |first=H. D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ag-1Fzs0bxMC |title=Rambutan Cultivation |date=1 January 1994 |publisher=[[Food and Agriculture Organization]] |isbn=978-92-5-103325-8}}</ref> It has spread from there to parts of Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Central America.<ref name="PaullDuarte2012">{{Cite book |last1=Paull |first1=Robert E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JukGd1c_ttYC |title=Tropical Fruits |last2=Duarte |first2=Odilo |publisher=CABI |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-84593-789-8}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Rambutan Muda.jpg|Young rambutan fruit in Malaysia
File:RambutanKuning.jpg|Ripe yellow rambutan fruit in Malaysia
File:LakeSampalocjf7542 08.JPG|Unripe rambutan fruits in the Philippines
File:Rambutan Binjai Pasar Baru Jakarta.JPG|'Rambutan Binjai', one of the leading cultivars in Indonesia
File:Three rambutan colors.jpg|Three colors of rambutan
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[List of culinary fruits]]
* [[Pomology]]
* [[Pulasan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons|Nephelium lappaceum}}
{{Wikispecies|Nephelium lappaceum}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q476864}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Edible fruits]]
[[Category:Fruits originating in Asia]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Trees of Thailand]]
[[Category:Trees of Malesia]]
[[Category:Tropical fruit]]
[[Category:Nephelium]]
[[Category:Fruit trees]]
[[Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]