The fruit is a round to oval drupe 3–6 cm (rarely to 8 cm) tall 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 rambutan, derived from the Malay word rambut, which means hairs. The fruit fleshis translucent, whitish or very pale pink, with a sweet, mildly acidic flavor very reminiscent of grapes
The single seed is glossy brown, 1–1.3 cm, with a white basal scar. Soft and crunchy, the seeds may be cooked and eaten. Some folklore regards the seeds as poisonous, but tests of seed extracts reveal no toxicity to mice, even in doses up to 2500 mg/kg. The extract does show some analgesic activity, however.The peeledfruits can be cooked and eaten, first the grape-like aril, then the nutty seed with no waste.
Transport condition: 15-20oC
Shelf life and storage conditions: Optimum storage condition is 12 +/- 3oC, humidity 90-95% - minimum
Shelf life 12-14days