Rambutan from Vietnam, it is called chôm chôm (meaning “messy hair”) due to the spines in the fruit’s skin, rambutan fruits can be used to eat as fresh fruits. In Vietnam, Frozen Rambutan is exported to many countries around the world.
The Rambutan, also known unofficially as Hairy Cherry, comes at first from the Malaysia peninsular, where the name Rambutan originated from the Malay word ‘rambut’ for curly hair. Today, a lot of rambutan is grown in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta area. It is about three to four cm in diameter and has soft fleshy locks over the complete surface. The peel turns from renewable to yellow to red as it ripens.
To eat: Partially cut through the skin or break open with a thumbnail and pull apart. We have a hard seed inside. When peeled the fruit makes a flesh that is white and firm; the taste is sweet with a touch of acid solution and is very rejuvenating.
Rambutan grows in large bunches on trees that can be of up to 20 m. A rambutan woods has broad foliage and many branches. Inside the southern provinces, the woods yields fruit at the beginning of the bitter season. Rambutan season endures until the end of the rainy season, which means from May to Oct.
The most famous rambutan fruit is grown in Binh Hoa Phuoc Town (Long Ho District, Vinh Long Province). During the rambutan season anybody can notice the typical bright red colorization of rambutan berry stands positioned in the marketplaces, along road and at intersections throughout the the southern area of provinces if Vietnam.
