Rambutan is botanically known as Nephelium lappaceum from the family Sapindaceae. The name also refers to the edible fruit produced by this tree. The rambutan is native to Southeast Asia. It is closely related to several other edible tropical fruits including the litchi, longan, pulasan, and mamoncillo. It produces fruits in clusters of long thick, soft, hairs or spines on the surface. The hairy outgrowth has eye-catching red and yellow colors and it imparts a distinctive exotic appearance to its fruits. The fruits are a good source of sugars and vitamin C and are eaten as a fresh dessert fruit.