Rambutan Fruits （红毛丹）

Rambutan, is a close relative of the lychee. It distinguishes itself from the lychee by its soft, red hairy rind. Sometimes, it is called the hairy lychee and it derives its name from the Malaysian word for hair, "rambut."

The Rambutan grows in clusters on large trees native to tropical Malaysia. The hairy fruit, often red but sometimes yellow, when peeled open, reveals a sweet, white flesh, clinging to a woody seed. Its flesh tends to be white and contains one seed. It is juicy and sweet like the lychee, but less acidic in flavor.

The rambutan is ripe when its rind shows no signs of bruising or spots and its red color is fully developed. Its hairy spines should be firm, not brittle. The rambutan should be wrapped in a paper towel and in a perforated plastic bag before being refrigerated for up to two weeks. Alternatively, it may be kept at room temperatures for two or three days.

In Malaysia, rambutan flowers from March to July and again between July and November, usually in response to rain following a dry period. Flowering periods differ for other localities.

红毛丹是热带水果，与果王榴连果后山竹一样驰名。毛丹果原意是毛茸茸的果子。成熟的毛丹果并非都是红色的，也有黄色，金灿灿的果子，真可爱。大概红毛的居多，当地人习惯称它为红毛丹，这个名字既雅致又好记。

红毛丹原产于马来群岛，现泰国、马来西亚、菲律宾、越南等地有规模栽培。红毛丹果实营养丰富，供鲜食和加工制罐头，此外还可制蜜饯、果酱、果冻和酿酒。红毛丹外观美，营养丰富，富含碳水化合物、各种维生素和矿质元素，味甜至酸甜，带荔枝或葡萄风味，可口怡人。

红毛丹的果体圆硕，味道鲜美，肉厚香甜，有的红毛丹核细似芝麻，品尝过这种佳果的人，称赞它似荔枝，肉甘香而厚，可与荔枝匹美。红毛丹果实呈球形、长卵行或椭圆形，串生于果梗上，外表呈黄色，果肉为白色，柔软而爽脆，酸甜似荔枝，可口清香。