The rambutan season is now upon us. A rambutan (the name comes from the Indonesian for "head hair" ( rambut -- body hair is bulu)) is a reddish fruit about the size and shape of a kiwi fruit (aka Chinese gooseberry) covered in bristles that look like short thick hair with too much gel. The pulp inside is white and semi-translucent. I have seen some very sorry-looking specimens in the UK, but otherwise I've only seen them here in SE Asia. The first time I came across them was in Singapore. When I opened the first one, a friend who was also new to these parts and had previously worked as a men's surgical nurse, said "That's just what men's balls look like inside as well."

They taste delicious when fully ripe. Unfortunately they tend to be harvested too early in my opinion.

Bingley

Bingley