Rambutan

For such a dangerous fruit, durian sure is a big business. An article in the NY Times leads with this: “lust for durian is creating fortunes in Southeast Asia”. The value of durian exported from SE Asia into China was $6.

It’s fruit season in Thailand. One can get fruit at any time of year, but a check of orchards and markets shows that mango season starts in April; after that come durian and rambutan, and mangosteens mark the end of it.

Mangosteens are well-known as “the queen of fruits,” and durian claims the moniker “king of fruits,” but what of the rambutan? Surely the rambutan deserves a catchy nickname as well?