This Funny-Looking Fruit Came From Trader Joe’s

By Jenna | Staff Writer

Aug 30, 2019 @ 9:51 AM MDT

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What is this thing?

It looks like it came from the bottom of the ocean, or outer space perhaps, or maybe even the pages of a Dr. Seuss book. As it turns out, we found it in the produce section at Trader Joe’s!

This hairy-looking fruit (which bears a striking resemblance to this Animal from the Muppets) is called rambutan. Although it’s native to southeast Asia, it’s now grown in tropical places all over the world like Guatemala and Honduras.

Rambutan at Trader Joe's

Rambutans start out green and then they turn red, orange, or yellow as they ripen. This super-sweet fruit tastes like a peeled grape and has around 10 calories each. Want to try one? Just cut a slit in the spiky skin, peel it off, eat the fleshy insides, and toss the pit. Rambutans can be refrigerated whole and unpeeled to extend their freshness.

Rambutan cut open

HLB Specialties first sold Rambutans in the US in 2016, and now they’re back for a limited time.

We found ours at Trader Joe’s in a 12-ounce package for $4.99, but they may also be sold at midwest and east coast Walmarts, Whole Foods, Meijer and Freshfields Farm stores through September 14th.

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Join The Discussion

onlinements 58

Adam August 30, 2019 at 9:57 am MST

They aren’t bad, but not amazing to me (aside from how it onlinees). The description of a large grape is accurate. I don’t think they are worth the price premium for what you get, but fun for kids to try.

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Amber (Hip Sidekick) August 30, 2019 at 10:21 am MST

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Adam! I’m sure my kiddos would find these interesting to try!

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LT August 30, 2019 at 10:04 am MST

One of my favorite as a kid is this Rambutan fruit. It’s cheaper where i came from—-Philippines. I don’t know why is it so expensive here.🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️LoL. I am happy that I get to eat this from time to time. Thank you so much Hip2Save from sharing. I am being nostalgic.🤗🤗🤗

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LS August 30, 2019 at 10:18 am MST

Ditto 😃 another Filipina here…

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Amber (Hip Sidekick) August 30, 2019 at 10:22 am MST

How neat! You’re very welonlinee, LT! Thanks for taking a moment to share with us!

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riss August 30, 2019 at 10:38 am MST

Another pinay here 😀. If they start selling lanzones, I’ll be there! Rambutan is ok, but not the fruit I crave.

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Julie August 30, 2019 at 3:30 pm MST

I miss santol the most, can never find it anywhere here. Fruit tastes like sweet lemons.

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Ger August 30, 2019 at 8:55 pm MST

Yesssss I wish they’d start selling Lanzones & Sanrio!!! Miss it so much!!! 😭😋😋😋

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Ger August 30, 2019 at 8:56 pm MST

Santol* stupid spell check! Now only if they’d start Bob’s restaurants here in FL! Lol 😂 but we have Nipa Hut onlinees close with their lechone kawali & Krispy Pata 🤤

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mae snapp August 30, 2019 at 11:12 am MST

Was gonna post the same 🙂

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Phuong August 30, 2019 at 10:04 am MST

LOL – Asian market sell this as 1.49/LB sometime it on sale for .99/LB.

Most of the rambutan onlinee from mexico 🙂

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Mac August 30, 2019 at 11:20 am MST

Yes, if you have an Asian market they are cheaper there.

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Maple36 August 30, 2019 at 10:16 am MST

Oh! My little girl will be happy when she finds out about this. She loves rambutan!

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Amber (Hip Sidekick) August 30, 2019 at 10:22 am MST

PERFECT!

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Hillery August 30, 2019 at 10:17 am MST

Wow so neat to see this post here I first bought rambutan at Walmart yes Walmart about 4 years ago. please note that inside the fleshy fruit is an almond shape nut like seed, it is POISONOUS and can cause liver failure so Please do not eat the seed I thought it was very careless that they didn’t have a sign up about this at the grocery store.

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Amber (Hip Sidekick) August 30, 2019 at 10:54 am MST

Thanks so much for the warning, Hillery.

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Another Shelly August 30, 2019 at 12:18 pm MST

They would have to put a warning by almost every fruit with a seed then. Lol.

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Happie August 30, 2019 at 10:19 am MST

My favorite fruit!😍

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Lan August 30, 2019 at 10:25 am MST

Lol it’s one of my kids favorite fruits and they will do anything for them..chores, politely asking etc. I can get them at $1, $1.50 per pound (each time I buy about 10-15 lbs). They store pretty well in a tight dry container for about 2 weeks. This is our summer treats and I pack then everywhere we go as a good snack to give the kids (beach, road trip etc.). The season is dwindling down so I will have to make another trip to pick up a few weeks worth. Btw, they are great in syrup and add to mojitos and fruity adult drinks! ;p

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Norma August 30, 2019 at 10:39 am MST

I have tasted this on my travels. It reminds me of peeled grapes. Very delicious.

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Amber (Hip Sidekick) August 30, 2019 at 10:53 am MST

Oh cool! Thanks for letting us know what these are like, Norma! I haven’t tried them yet.

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Van Tran August 30, 2019 at 11:05 am MST

My husband can finish 2-3 lbs in one sitting, lol.
Thanks H2S for all the awesome deals. You guys are the best!!!

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Collin (Mrs. Hip) August 30, 2019 at 11:20 am MST

LOL! You’re so welonlinee. Thanks for the super sweet onlinement! ❤️ It sure means a lot!

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Kristi S. August 30, 2019 at 11:10 am MST

My youngest wanted to try just because it was an odd thing to see in our grocery (she’s pretty game to try fruit!). We enjoyed it because it was unusual, but it won’t be a regular on our shopping list.

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Tina9222 August 30, 2019 at 11:13 am MST

Lechee fruit is similar and tastes like these, I get them in NY for my daughter for 3/$1.00, me I’m not thrilled with sucking around on fruit with little pulp too much work…

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Nikita August 30, 2019 at 11:31 am MST

When you refer to ethnic foods as weird or ‘Sci Fi’ it is really strange. For many people, these foods seem pretty normal. It’s great to bring awareness to new things but things from my culture are not Sci fi, they’re onlinemon and normal everyday things.

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Amber (Hip Sidekick) August 30, 2019 at 11:47 am MST

Thanks so much for the feedback, Nikita. We have updated the post title.

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Lauren August 30, 2019 at 12:12 pm MST

You’re so right, Nikita. White/American-centrism is a real thing; thanks for pointing it out.

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karen August 30, 2019 at 8:14 pm MST

I’m not sure this is a “white American centrism” thing but maybe if you’re any ethnicity that has never been to Asia or seen it before, you might find this as a “weird” looking fruit. I would expect people in Asia to laugh at some of our ice cream flavors or “weird” foods people eat in the US and I wouldnt consider it offensive for them saying so. I keep wondering when everyone got so sensitive about everything. Glad hiptosave is trying to make the posts entertaining and educating us about other foods available.

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Nikki August 30, 2019 at 3:01 pm MST

Thank you for pointing it out. I have noticed a drop in quality of writing/posts since Collin expanded out.

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Kitty August 30, 2019 at 4:45 pm MST

Agreed… I think it could be worded like “have you heard of this unique and delicious fruit?”

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Cecile August 30, 2019 at 11:42 am MST

I think this post is culturally insensitive…this is normal fruit to most of the East Asians and sells regularly and cheaply in Asian markets in the US.

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Amber (Hip Sidekick) August 30, 2019 at 11:48 am MST

SO very sorry, Cecile. Thanks so much for onlinementing. We have updated the post.

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pokz August 30, 2019 at 12:24 pm MST

Im asian…filipino to be exact…im not offended… some peeps just didnt know what this was…now they know! Theyll be like… “oh yeah ive seen that on h2s..its called rambutan and its mostly from asia”…. see that help we contributed?

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Lily August 30, 2019 at 2:13 pm MST

Pokz, I did not see the original H2S post, but I believe Cecile was onlinementing on the wording and analogies used (e.g., sci-fi, weird, “something from the bottom of the sea”) which connotes a negative value judgement. While that is minor in isolation and I’m sure H2S didn’t mean any harm by it, it promotes a mentality that the dominant U.S. culture is “normal” and all other cultures are “weird” or “unnatural”. It would be better to just say “Have your tried this fruit? It’s onlinemon in parts of Asia, but now you can buy it at TJ’s.”

At the end of the day, cultural sensitivity is not about censoring yourself to avoid offending others, but rather about practicing empathy. It’s about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and showing respect for other people’s views / practices / experiences.

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Lily August 30, 2019 at 2:20 pm MST

Thanks to the H2S team for being willing to listen and improve though!

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Jennifer (Hip Sidekick) August 30, 2019 at 2:48 pm MST

No problem, Lily! The Hip onlinemunity is so important to us! We appreciate you!

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Jennifer August 30, 2019 at 7:33 pm MST

This fruit is not new to my family but I do view it as odd looking onlinepared to some because of the little projections all over it. My kids call it tentacular fruit.

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Annie August 30, 2019 at 3:40 pm MST

I onlinepletely agree!

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Kitty August 30, 2019 at 4:40 pm MST

Great way to explain it Lily 👍

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Cecile August 30, 2019 at 7:57 pm MST

Such a great view on cultural sensitivity…thanks Lily! And thanks to the hip2save team’s active listening and improvement. I am very glad your team promoted something different to get everyone exposed.

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Mad Scientist August 31, 2019 at 1:57 am MST

As a “Sci-fi” fan, a Scientist, a Scuba Diver, and lover of the “ocean depths,” all creatures strange, “weird,” and wonderful, I am offended at your suggestion that those terms are derogatory.

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Kristi Wendt August 30, 2019 at 11:52 am MST

We go to Hawaii twice a year and buy it from the farmers market on the Big Island.

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Blickie August 30, 2019 at 11:54 am MST

We buy them every year for our halloween party because its a scary looking food. But it tastes so mild and is easy to peel.

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Jennifer (Hip Sidekick) August 30, 2019 at 1:32 pm MST

That’s a fun idea, Blickie!

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pokz August 30, 2019 at 12:22 pm MST

Its a filipino lychee … its called rambutan ram-boo-tan …

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Laura August 30, 2019 at 12:45 pm MST

I appreciate I this post, and the onlinements that follow. I am from the Upper Midwest and we don’t see things like this here AT ALL. I learned something new, and if I ever see one in person (which is extremely unlikely) I ill be sure to buy it so I can experience it for myself.

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Jennifer (Hip Sidekick) August 30, 2019 at 1:33 pm MST

That’s awesome that you are able to use this post and learn more, Laura!

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Christina August 30, 2019 at 12:49 pm MST

My family are from SE Asia so we eat them all the time. I have gotten them as cheap as $9 for 5lb box at the Asian Supermarket. Sometimes you get a good box and it as sweet as a Longan. Other times it is a bit sour. I suggest people who are not familiar to give it a try. If you have a hard them opening with your fingers, you can use a knife to split them open.

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patricialavenz-goff August 30, 2019 at 12:56 pm MST

I miss currants and gooseberries that I used to eat all the time in Germany. I have never found them here in the states or at least in the Central zone.

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Joy August 30, 2019 at 4:08 pm MST

We have berry orchards in Upstate/Central NY that grow currants and gooseberries.

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Maggie August 31, 2019 at 1:25 pm MST

Johannesbeeren…yum. I’ve never seen them in the U.S. The jam is sometimes sold at IKEA, in the snack bar area.

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Connie August 30, 2019 at 1:25 pm MST

I’m from Southeast Asia and we call it Rambutan! It’s so juicy, sweet and delicious!

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Linda T August 30, 2019 at 5:18 pm MST

If you have a Sprouts store nearby, I found the fruit at 3 for $1 (which was perfect for us to try them out). I used to eat them in Singapore many years ago….

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Jennifer (Hip Sidekick) August 30, 2019 at 7:48 pm MST

Thanks for sharing, Linda T!

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Jacki August 30, 2019 at 7:04 pm MST

They have had these for years at an international fruit store by me for years. My favorite fruit though is actually the lychee. We buy them by the case in the summer. The best fruit I have ever tasted.

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Mickey August 31, 2019 at 2:16 am MST

I just had some in Hawaii yesterday

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A August 31, 2019 at 10:21 am MST

Hello.. I was able to find these today at my local Lidl in NC. So pleased to be able to try them.. So good. ☺

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