SOS for Rambutan in NYC

June 23, 2009 8:30 AM

I'm looking for hot leads on getting some dried rambutan in NYC or online. Trader Joe's, my old scoring spot, has turned up empty for a month and I'm not sure it will be restocked there. I've checked a couple Asian grocery stores as far as Flushing Queens but no dice. Bulk-only okay--yes, I'm that addicted.
posted by damsorrow to Food & Drink (6 answers total)

Old chowhound link may give you some ideas.

Chinatown.

I saw them on fruit carts earlier in June, haven't noticed them recently.
posted by cestmoi15 at 8:42 AM on June 23, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks for the input! I'm specifically looking for it dried, but I haven't been able to find even the fresh fruit.
posted by damsorrow at 8:57 AM on June 23, 2009

Natural foods stores often can help bulk-ordering relatively specialized produce like this. You'd both help the store and get a discount relative to shelf price. I would try your small neighborhood natural foods stores first (and then, if they can't do it, Whole Foods, which has deep/broad resources for special orders).

If you can get a temporary fix from canned rambutan, Po Wing Hong (on Elizabeth just north of Canal) has it cheap.

(And: cestmoi15, you saw fresh rambutan?? Where?)
posted by kalapierson at 9:27 AM on June 23, 2009

Beautifully fresh rambutan, imported from Thailand, was all over our Asian groceries in May here in Philly. I think it's done for the season, though.

Fresh lychees are right now, though!
posted by desuetude at 9:38 AM on June 23, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks again guys! I am, however, looking for dried, not fresh. Kala, awesome tip about Po Wing Hong. I will head there.
posted by damsorrow at 11:18 AM on June 23, 2009

Just how addicted are you?

You could buy a few packets online at this raw food store...

..or a minimum of 1000 packets by calling this wholesaler.
posted by embrangled at 12:45 AM on June 24, 2009