Durian = also called Liu Lian (in Chinese) and  Thurian (in Thai)

This tropical fruit originated in Malaysia or Borneo, and is very popular in South-east Asia. It's called the King of Fruits by aficionados in Southeast Asia, but Westerners usually don't care much for its mild oniony flavor. Round or oval, it has a dull green shell-like skin covered with pointed spines that turn yellow as the fruit ripens. A typical durian weighs about 2 kg/ 4 1/2 lb, but they can grow even larger, up to 4.5 kg/10 lb.

Durian has a very unpleasant smell, often likened to the stench of raw sewage. The ripe flesh, however, is as delicious as the odour is awful: sweet and creamy, with a hint of strawberries.

The fruit is eaten raw, and the seeds are often roasted and eaten like nuts.

mangosteen = mangostan = sanzhu guo (Chinese) = Mang khut (Thai)

Some claim that this is the most delicious fruit on the planet. Mangosteens are small, apple-shaped fruits with leathery brown skin that turns purple as they ripen. They are native to South-east Asia and are cultivated in Thailand.

The tough skin surrounds delicious white flesh, which is divided into segments, each with a large seed. The pearly white flesh is fresh and fragrant. Some say it tastes like grapefruit.

Mangosteens are always eaten raw, but the related kokum, which has a pleasant sour taste, is used as a souring agent in Indian cooking.

Rambutan = Hong Mao Tang (Cantonese) = Ngo (Thai)

These small tropical fruits originated in Malaysia, but they are also grown in the Philippines and Thailand. They belong to the same family as lychees and longans, and they have a similar taste and texture, but look very different. The reddish-brown skins are covered with fine green-tipped hairs. Inside, the flesh is white, and hides an oblong seed.

Rambutans are not as strongly scented as lychees. The delicate flesh taste a little sharper.

Rambutans are usually eaten in the hand, served on the bottom half of the shell, with the top half cut off to expose the flesh. they are used in fruit salads, but are seldom cooked.

Lychee = lichee = lizhi (Mandarin) = leechee = laichee = lin-chi (Thai) = la-ee-tzee (Cantonese)

Indigenous to subtropical areas of southern China and Thailand, lychees grow in clusters on small trees. The ripe fruits is about the size of a small plum, with a beautiful, scaly red skin or "shell". Once this is removed, the pearly white fruit, which surrounds a large inedible seed, is revealed. Fresh lychees are seasonal. When they are not available, canned fruit can be used instead, but it lacks the subtlety of the fresh fruit. Choose the ones in natural juice rather than syrup.

Peeled lychees have a delicious, perfume. The flesh has a wonderful, clean taste, somewhat like a grape, but much more scented.

Lychees and their close relatives, longans, "dragon's eyes", are said to boost fertility. in some parts of China it is traditional, when a young person reaches puberty, to celebrate the event with a meal composed of a young cockerel cooked with dried lychees or langans. on most occasions, however, lychees are eaten fresh, and are good for cleansing the palate after a rich meal. They are also used in fruit salads and for making sorbets.

longan = lungan = dragon's eyes 

Longans are very similar to lychees and rambutans. You can buy them fresh (in the summer), dried or canned.