Rambutan, Nephelium lappaceum, is the red or yellow tropical fruit covered in soft, hair-like spines. The name comes from the Malay rambut, “hair”. Its sweet, juicy white flesh is like lychee. It is now grown commercially in Kerala, especially in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta, and sold across India in the monsoon.
- Botanical name
- Nephelium lappaceum L.
- Family
- Sapindaceae
- Tamil
- Rambutan
- Hindi
- Rambutan
- Parts used
- Ripe aril
- Habit
- Rambutan; lychee is a cousin, not this fruit
- Last updated
- 2026-10-30
How to recognise Rambutan
It is a medium-sized evergreen tree with pinnate leaves of glossy, elliptical leaflets.
Small greenish flowers grow in sprays at the branch tips.
The fruit is oval, red, orange or yellow, covered in soft, fleshy spines.
Inside, translucent white flesh clings to a single seed. Lychee has bumpy, not hairy, skin.
Ripe fruit has bright, fully coloured skin and spines; green-tipped spines mean it was picked early.
Traditional use of Rambutan
Southeast Asian food
Rambutans are eaten fresh, canned, or made into jams.
Southeast Asian food practice
Kerala farming
Kerala farmers have replaced rubber with rambutan in some areas because fruit prices have been better.
Kerala horticulture
Modern notes on Rambutan
Rambutan is a good source of vitamin C.
The seed’s papery coat often sticks to the flesh, so eaters need to separate them.
Rambutan safety
Do not eat the raw seed.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to the Malay archipelago and needs a hot, humid climate.
It grows in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu’s wetter districts.
Bees and flies pollinate its flowers.
It needs well-drained soil and rain through most of the year, which suits Kerala’s midlands.
Grafted trees fruit within four or five years, while seedlings may take longer and vary in quality.
Related plants
Also in Sapindaceae
Questions about Rambutan
Is Rambutan lychee?
No. It is a relative with hairy skin.
What does rambutan mean?
Hairy, from the Malay word rambut.
Where is Rambutan grown in India?
Mainly in Kerala.
How do I open one?
Score the skin around the middle with a knife or thumbnail, then twist off the top half.
When are they in season?
Mainly from June to August in Kerala.
Sources
- Nephelium lappaceum L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q476864 (Nephelium lappaceum)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.