Rambutan ( taxonomic name: nephelium lappaceum) is a medium-sized tropical tree in the family sapindaceae. the name also refers to the fruit produced by this tree. the rambutan is native to malay-indonesian region

the name ‘rambutan’ is derived from the malay-indonesian languages word for rambut or “hair”,

the fruit is a round to oval single-seeded berry, 3–6 cm (rarely to 8 cm) long and 3–4 cm broad, borne in a loose pendant cluster of 10–20 together. the leathery skin is reddish (rarely orange or yellow), and covered with fleshy pliable spines, hence the name, which means ‘hairs’. the fruit flesh, which is actually the aril, is translucent, whitish or very pale pink, with a sweet, mildly acidic flavor very reminiscent of grapes.