There are certain signs that tell you what time of year it is in Costa Rica. Right now, one of them happens to be bright red, covered in soft little spikes, and appearing at fruit stands, markets, and small roadside stalls all around the country and Guanacaste.
Mamón chino season is here. Known in English as rambutan, mamón chino is one of those fruits that can look wonderfully strange if you have never seen one before. Its round red shell is covered in long, soft hairs, giving it an almost otherworldly appearance.
Luckily, it is much simpler to eat than it looks. Once peeled, the dramatic exterior gives way to a smooth, translucent white fruit that is juicy and delicately sweet, with a flavor often compared to grapes or lychee.
Luckily, it is much simpler to eat than it looks. Once peeled, the dramatic red, spiky exterior gives way to a smooth, translucent white fruit that is juicy and delicately sweet, with a flavor often compared to grapes or lychee. Originally from Southeast Asia, rambutan has become a familiar seasonal fruit in Costa Rica, where its harvest generally takes place during the rainy season and August and September are especially good months to find it. Because it is only available for a few months of the year, now is the perfect time to give this exotic-looking fruit a try and discover just how different its soft, sweet interior is from what its exterior might suggest.
So, if you are visiting and spot one of these slightly odd-looking fruits, give it a try. It is one of those small seasonal experiences that makes this time of year here feel a little more special.