Wong pei, two ways.
It's also called wampee and by other, derivative names in Southeast Asia; these were harvested in Florida. The smaller, rounder variety ($8 per pound, photographed earlier at another stand nearby) is very sour, and prone to bruising; the one I sampled offered little pulp around four pumpkinseed wannabees.
The larger, ovoid wong pei ($15 per pound, also shown below) is sweet, with a flavor similar to lychee. The rind peels away readily, though sometimes in too many shreds. As an alternative, you can work the whole wong pei in your mouth — where the minute hairs on the rind may suggest an apricot, in mouthfeel if not flavor — then discard the rind and seeds.
Sidewalk fruit vendor
Near the southwest corner of Grand St. with Elizabeth St., New York
$15/lb? Gosh, and I thought these vendors' mangosteens were expensive at $9/lb.
Although maybe you still get more actual fruit meat from wong pei, since the weight of the mangosteens is largely from the inedible rinds.
Posted by: Ike | June 23, 2011 at 04:04 PM
On weight of edible matter for your fruit-shopping dollar, it's probably a wash.
Posted by: Dave Cook | June 23, 2011 at 04:18 PM
It seems to be very interesting and i want to have it once. I am really found of fruits and trying different type of fruits.
Posted by: Pepe Fanjul | November 16, 2011 at 04:17 AM
I personally like trying different kinds of fruits and dishes in life.The name Wong pei is soo different. Hope its taste is also different.
Posted by: Gaston Cantens | November 18, 2011 at 05:40 AM
I like to taste different types of fruits to taste. very less fruits are there which i like the most... wong pei is so different name but i will taste this and hope it comes in the category of my favorite fruits....
Posted by: Pier 59 Studios | December 02, 2011 at 07:23 AM
I buy from street vendors a lot. I can't resist a bargain. There's a guy downtown on Chambers Street near Broadway who has ridiculously cheap stuff. Some of it is way past its prime but some of it is OK. And there's a newish vendor on Chambers near Greenwich who keep later hours than most of the others.
Posted by: Brandi S. Nave Attorney | December 06, 2011 at 05:29 AM
Wong Pei is so different kind of fruit but I will taste this and hope it comes in the category of my favorite fruits.
Posted by: Swami Prakashanand Saraswati | January 02, 2012 at 07:36 AM