Can I only buy it in season?
The guide gives its timing as: Harvest listed as April–August. The harvest period can vary with the growing area and the variety. The calendar does not guarantee that it is on sale on any particular date.
Rambutan
Rambutan · เงาะ
Meet rambutan, with its red skin covered in hair-like spines. Peel it and white flesh appears, with sweet juice. The outside may look unfamiliar, but removing the skin and stone is simple. Buying just a few at a market and tasting them is a good idea.
When is the best time to eat it?
Harvest listed as April–August
Harvest period varies by growing area
Rong rian rambutan from Na San: harvest period listed as July–August
Use the main season, or the harvest period for regional fruit, as a guide. Actual availability can vary with the growing area, the variety and the weather.
What does it taste like?
The white flesh is sweet and juicy. Some varieties, such as Thailand’s rong rian, differ in texture and in how easily the flesh comes away from the stone.
Why this fruit is well known in Thailand
The hairy-looking skin stands out, and inside is white flesh. The Tourism Authority of Thailand presents rong rian rambutan from Na San in Surat Thani as a regional GI fruit.
Good to know before you buy
- Thai name
- เงาะ
- Harvest period
- Harvest listed as April–August
- Regional fruit
- Rong rian rambutan from Na San: harvest period listed as July–August
- How it is sold
- Ask whether it is sold by the kilo or in a set bag. Choose only the amount you will eat straight away, peel it and remove the stone.
How to prepare and eat it
- Make a shallow split in the skin, open it and peel it off.
- Eat the white flesh, but take out the stone in the middle.
- If it is sold in a bag, look at the weight and the price together before you buy.
A guide to prices
Bangkok retail prices · 14 October 2026
These are prices by variety and grade, surveyed by Thailand’s Department of Internal Trade. They do not apply to every stall on the street.
| Fruit and variety | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Rambutan · Rong Rian (โรงเรียน) | 50–60 baht | 1 kg |
Keep the price of a bag or tub of cut fruit separate from the per-kilo price of whole fruit. Bananas are priced per bunch in this survey.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a per-kilo price with the price of a tub?
Ask whether it is sold by the kilo or in a set bag. Choose only the amount you will eat straight away, peel it and remove the stone.
Keep exploring
Official sources and references
If you would like to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are worth a look. Ingredients and cooking methods can vary from one cook to the next.