A rambutan is a tropical fruit about the size of a golf ball, covered in soft, hair-like spines that make it look like a fuzzy red or yellow sea creature. The name comes from the Malay word rambut, which means “hair.”

Despite its unusual appearance, rambutan is sweet and delicious. To eat one, you squeeze or cut through the hairy skin to reveal white, translucent flesh inside that tastes similar to a grape or lychee. There's a seed in the middle that you don't eat. The spines aren't sharp at all: they're flexible and harmless, more like thick rubber threads than actual spikes.

Rambutans grow on trees in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, where they've been cultivated for centuries. You can sometimes find them in American supermarkets, especially in areas with large Asian communities. If you see these strange, hairy fruits at the grocery store, don't let their wild appearance fool you. Inside is one of nature's sweetest surprises.