Thai fruits - - including mangoes, mangosteens, clurians, pineapples, watermelons, papayas, rambutans, longans, lyches, tamarinds, pomegranates, palm fruits, oranges, pomeloes, jackfruits and more than 20 kinds of bananas- - are available all year round.

From January to April, grapes, jackfruits, java apples, tangerines, watermelons and pomegranates are in season. Next come mangoes, lyches, pineapples, clurians and mangosteens.

From July on, longans will ripen, and also langsats, jujubes, passionfruits, pomeloes, rambutans, sugar apples and again tangerines, grapes, watermelons, bananas, coconuts, guavas and papayas are available thoughout the year. Some harvests are celebrated in style, with colourful festivals, sometimes featuring a pageant of local beauties.

In early April, the Paet Riu Mango Festival is organized in Chachoengsao. Probably the most popular and typical of Thai fruits, the mango deserves this honour. In May, Songkhla promotes its fruits with a bazaar, fruit carving demonstrations and a Miss Southern Thailand Pageant. In June, Chanthaburi exhibits delicious provincial fruits, including the king of them all, the exquisitely delicious durian.

In September, to honour pomeloes, a fruit and floral float procession is held in Nakhon Pathom, near Bangkok.

Mangosteen (Mangkut) Dark purple skin protects a delicate white flesh. Season: May through September.

Rambutan (Ngoh) Rambut means hair in Malay. The hairy skin protects succulent white flesh. Season: May through July.

Mango (Mamuang) Eaten when green, and when ripened. Season : April & May

Rose Apple (Chomphu) Pale green or soft pink, tastes vary according to variety. Popularly eaten with a lightly chilled salt and sugar dip. Harvested throughout the year.

Durian Delicate cream flesh makes this the most popular of Thai fruits.

Pomelo (Som-O) Uniquely Thai fruit resembling large grapeg\fruit. Succulent sweet-sour fruit.

Star Fruit (Mafuang) Tastes vary from sour to very sweet. Often squeezed for juice and used as a food

Crab Apple (phutsa) Enjoyed mostly with a sugar/salt/chilli dip.lavouring.aten with a dip.