h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Rambutan - A9713973
Author: MiniMy - U181646

Ok. My first attempt at a fruit. I have tried to cover the main points - did not want to get too bogged down with the scientific stuff.

Let me know your thoughts!


mini

mmmm. Tasty!

Thanks MiniMy You have just identified the last mystery member of the strange selection of knobbly and/or hairy things presented to us a 'fruit' when were on honeymoon in Bali last year.

Rambutan is such a great sounding name too

Does the tree only thrive in Southeast Asia, or can it be grown in cooler climes?

Hi Mini,

This is really well written and very informative. Well done

Can I suggest adding a little quirky info here? Perhaps on medicinal or historic uses or even how it is used in flower arrangment? I'll have look to see if I can find you some fun or funny links later on - gotta run right now (school run!)


W

fatkelli - the tree is a tropical tree which likes the humidity so it is mainly found around the South East Asian region.

Wilma - have included some other facts. Not sure how quirky they are though...

mini

Plenty quirky enough for me, MiniMy! Thanks for thinking my suggestion was worthy I really like how this reads anyway but imho a touch of tongueincheek adds another element of intelligence to the writing and you have done this perfectly.
W

Very nice entry indeed MiniMy.

Any chance of finding an image of a rambutan that you can link to? It would have to be from a BBC-friendly website of course - something with a degree of permanence (so that it doesn't become a broken link), and nothing commercial. Websites ending in <.org>, <.edu> or <.ac.uk> ought to fit the bill.

Can it be used in recipes?

"store them in the refrigerator in a zip lock bag or covered with plastic film"
I've always understood that it's bad practice to wrap or enclose fruits and vegetables in plastic because keeping the moisture in can promote mould growth, even in the fridge. I suppose it depends on how soon you intend to eat the fruit.

"or bite into the rind as it is soft"
That sort of runs on, and earlier in the entry you said the fruit has a leathery skin, which hints at something you couldn't easily bite into or tear at with a fingernail.

The rembutan looks amazingly like lychees and longans. How *do* you tell them apart?

Hiya!

Ok, here goes...

BH >
have located a picture from an edu site but not completely happy with it so will have to look some more.
recipes... well, there are recipes available. Just nothing traditional or common. I did not really want to put it in here. I can try locating the preserve recipe though.
Have taken away the zip lock bag comment but still left in the plastic film.
Regarding the rind: it is actually quite easy to bite into - that's how I usually get it open if I do not want my finger nails to get clogged up. Have added a note that the skin is actually leathery and thin.

Seachange >

it is actually quite easy to differentiate rambutans from longans and lychees. They are red and hairy. Lychees are red but have no hair and the skin looks kind of knobbly. Longans are brown.

Thanks for the comments! Have updated accordingly...


mini

"and think light brown outside"
What does that mean, MiniMy?

Sorry BH, that was supposed to be thin instead of think.

All corrected!

mini

One more thing I've just noticed.

"If kept for a few days, you will be able to see that the spines will begin to wilt and turn brown/black. However, the fruit is still good to be eaten"
I think that would read better like this:
'If kept for a few days the spines will begin to wilt and turn brown/black, but the fruit should still be good to eat.

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Well done MiniMy

W

thankys!



mini

Coolness!