Rambutan (Tanzania, Zanzibar)

On a wooden cart in the heart of Zanzibar's Stone Town market , bunches of red rambutans pile up in dense bouquets, tied with raffia ties. This spiky-skinned tropical fruit—named from the Malay word rambut , meaning “hair”—captures the eye as much as the palate. Its juicy, sweet, white flesh is reminiscent of its more floral botanical cousin, the lychee .

Rambutan in Zanzibar is more than just a culinary delight: it embodies the ancient maritime routes that connected Southeast Asia to East Africa. These fruits, introduced over the centuries by Arab, Indian, and Malay traders, are now part of local daily life, sold at auction or directly from stalls.

This photograph, taken in the heart of a vibrant market, documents the agricultural diversity and intercultural dimension of the archipelago, where flavors from elsewhere blend with island traditions.