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    Home » Tips and Tricks

    Jul 9, 2019 · Modified: May 16, 2021 by Lily · This post may contain affiliate links.

    What Does Rambutan Taste Like

    Rambutan is native to Indonesia and other tropical Southeast Asian areas. Having grown up in the U.S., it's not a very common fruit, so today was the first day I have ever had Rambutan. What does Rambutan taste like? That's a good question!

    Maybe you are like me and passed this fruit in the grocery store a few times. I would have to say that the biggest stoppers for me trying this fruit was that I was unsure of how to actually eat it and I had no clue what it would taste like.

    So What Does Rambutan Really Taste Like?

    Rambutan tastes like a mix between a grape and a fresh date. Whenever you eat a fresh date, the fruit surrounding the seed has a sort of bitter taste. Rambutan shares that quality. The fleshy part of Rambutan is tender and a little juicy- just like a grape. I would say it's sweet like a grape but less sour and tangy.

    Another way to describe rambutan taste is like lychee. But if you are like me, you probably haven't had lychee before either. Shortly after eating Rambutan for the first time, I bought some lychee. Both rambutan and lychee are juicy and sweet.

    I love how Rambutan looks- it’s so exotic and colorful. I passed Rambutan so many times in the grocery store. To be honest, I didn’t know how to eat rambutan, so I never bought it. It's a lot less intimidating once you cut the outer hairy skin layer.

    Rambutan is not very large in size- the body is about the size of a golf ball. Now thinking about it, it's like a golf ball with a bad hair day.

    Here’s How To Eat Rambutan

    1. Wash Rambutan.

    I put all of the rambutans in a large bowl and fill it with water. I drained the rambutan with a strainer. If you would like, you can towel dry the rambutans, but there is really no need to.

    2. Cut Rambutan.

    Using a knife, cut circularly just piercing the hairy skin. If you cut too deeply, then you will also pierce the soft fruit under the skin. There's a hard seed in the middle of the fruit to be mindful of when cutting.

    3. Eat Rambutan.

    After I removed the hairy skin, I ate the soft fleshy fruit around the seed. The seed was not easy to remove without making a mess, so I found this to be the easiest way to eat it.

    Other Ways to Eat Rambutan

    I have eaten rambutan two ways: by itself and in a smoothie. It's kind of expensive where I live, so I only tried it once in a smoothie. And the flavor wasn't particularly life-changing in the smoothie, in fact, I couldn't taste it at all. Maybe if this fruit was a little cheaper, I'd add it consistently to get the added nutritional content of Rambutan.

    Where Does Rambutan Originate From?

    Rambutan is primarily native to southeast Asia, so you will find it available locally in Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. However, a lot of countries import rambutan so you might be able t find it at your grocery store (like me).

    Nutritional Content of Rambutan

    It contains iron and a high amount of vitamin C for its small size. If you'd like to know more information about Rambutan, click here.

    How to Store Rambutan

    Rambutan can be stored in or out of the fridge. It should be peeled right before it's eaten to maintain freshness. If you find Rambutan fresh at the supermarket, you can expect it to last about 4 to 5 days in the fridge, and about 3 to 4 days if left at room temperature.

    Fresh Drinks to Have with Rambutan

    • Strawberry Smoothie with Banana and Pineapple
    • Green Smoothie
    • Iced Jasmine Green Tea

    If you were ever wondering "what does rambutan taste like", hopefully, this post helps to explain. Try this little hairy fruit if you get the chance!

    « Finding Inner Peace and Happiness
    Jasmine Iced Green Tea Recipe »

    About Lily

    Howdy! My name Lilian, but my friends call me Lily. I'm the founder and one of the recipe authors here at The Matbakh. I enjoy sunsets, long walks on the beach, meaningful relationships, and anything related to food. I'm so happy you are here!

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    Hi, I'm Lily!

    toddler lily using her kitchen set

    I've been cooking things up ever since I was a kid. I'm a Lebanese American from Texas. My kitchen, or "matbakh", is a hodgepodge of delicious cultural recipes from the US and Mediterranean regions.

    More about me

    Quick & Easy Desserts

    • Lazy Cake
    • Cookie Dough Date Balls
    • Cookie Butter Rice Krispie Treats
    • The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies (Freezer-Friendly)

    Vegan Smoothies

    • Pineapple Kiwi Green Smoothie
    • Blueberry Kale Banana Smoothie
    • Strawberry Banana Pineapple Smoothie
    • Strawberry Pomegranate Smoothie

    Middle Eastern Desserts

    • Aish El Saraya - Ashta With Sweetened Bread
    • Pistachio Tahini Halva
    • Mafroukeh Pistachio Dessert With Cream
    • How To Make Baklava Rolls
    • Date Ma'amoul Mad Bars
    • Riz Bi Haleeb - Rose Water Rice Pudding
    • Qatayef Stuffed Pancakes (Walnuts or Cheese)
    • Basbousa Semolina Cake
    • Date Filled Cookie Bracelets - Ka'ak Asawer
    • Homemade Turkish Delight (Raha)

    Lebanese Recipes

    • Meghli Lebanese Caraway Pudding
    • Lebanese Chicken and Rice (Riz a Djej)
    • Lebanese Seven Spices Blend
    • Namoura Syrup-Soaked Semolina Cake
    • Sfouf Turmeric Cake
    • Kibbeh Labanieh (Kibbeh Balls In Yogurt)
    • Kafta
    • Potato Kibbeh (Kibbet Batata)
    • Kousa Mahshi Lebanese Stuffed Zucchini
    • Fried Kibbeh Balls
    • Beef Sambousek
    • Zaatar Manakeesh Flatbread

    Mediterranean Faves

    • Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
    • Slow Roasted Lamb Shanks In Foil Packets
    • Sautéed Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp
    • Egyptian Koshari Recipe (The Best I've Had)
    • Oven Broiled Lamb Kabobs
    • Killer Lebanese Fattoush Salad
    • Bulgar Tabouli Salad
    • How To Make Labneh From Milk
    • Easy Spanakopita (Greek Spinach And Feta Pie)
    • Creamy Vitamix Chickpea Hummus (Easy & Authentic)

    Family-Style Recipes

    • Ricotta and Sausage Baked Ziti
    • Steelhead Trout with Garlic Lime Butter Sauce
    • Harissa Lamb Chili With Couscous
    • Blanched Asparagus With Garlic Aioli
    • 20 Minute Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
    • Easy Ground Lamb Shepherd's Pie
    • Baked Chicken Thighs and Turmeric Basmati Rice
    • Chipwich Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich

    Kid Favorites

    • Crispy Pita Bread Pizza
    • Chipwich Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich
    • Lemon Blueberry Pancakes
    • Slow Cooker Meat Spaghetti Sauce
    • Butter Roasted Baby Gold Potatoes
    • Italian Stuffed Zucchini in Tomato Sauce

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