12 Compulsive Facts About Longan – the Dragon`s Eye
by Editorial Staff
Longan is a delicious exotic fruit, familiar to everyone who has been to Asia at least once. Under the nondescript-looking skin is a fragrant and exquisite-tasting pulp: this fruit does not leave anyone indifferent. An additional bonus is a composition saturated with useful substances for the body, which can give odds to many more popular fruits.
There are two versions of the origin of longan: the origin of the fruit may be China or Burma. The first mention of it dates back to 200 BC. At that time, in the Chinese province of Shaanxing, a ruler from the Han dynasty planned to plant beautiful orchards. Of all the fruits he knew, he chose the most beautiful - longan and lychee, but they did not take root in the cold climate of the northwestern part of the country.
However, in the warmer southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Fujian, where the subtropical climate prevails, the fruits ripen perfectly: the country is their main exporter. They are no less popular in Thailand, where they bear the local name lamayaj (Lam Yai). These fruit trees can be found in Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Laos, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan.
Back in the 19th century, Longan was taken out of Asia. Since then, it has been successfully cultivated in Australia, Puerto Rico, and the island of Mauritius. But in Florida and other warm regions of the United States, the plant did not gain popularity among gardeners and farmers, so you will not find large plantations in the region.
Longan fruits ripen on evergreen trees. The crop is harvested once a year: in Thailand and other southeastern countries, the peak of fruiting occurs in the summer period, from June to August. However, the variety of climatic conditions allows harvesting all year round in different parts of the region.
In this regard, the fruit can be found on supermarket shelves at any time of the year. Since a well-ripe fruit is stored for no more than a week even in the refrigerator, it is harvested slightly unripe for export. This does not affect the taste of the fruit, on the contrary, to improve the taste, it is recommended to eat it no earlier than 1-2 days after harvest.
The main thing that attracts people to this plant is its fruits. They ripen on the branches in bunches similar to grapes. The size of the fruit is small - about 2-2.5 cm in diameter: they look like large grapes or nuts. The fruits are covered with dense, tough, rough skin, the color of which, depending on the variety, can be pale yellow, light beige, or brown.
A special feature is a bright musky aroma. Longan is slightly sweeter than its closest relative, lychee, but less juicy. Other similar fruits include rambutan and Spanish lime.
Under the pulp is a round or oblong bone, the color of which can be dark or slightly reddish. It cannot be eaten because of the abundance of tannins and saponin. However, seeds are used to create medicines, are used in cosmetology and folk medicine.
Longan is known as "dragon's eye": this is the translation of the Chinese word longyan. An ancient legend about a young man named Longan, who figured out how to rid an entire village of an evil dragon, is associated with his appearance. The legend says that he offered to layout on the seashore, from which the dragon emerged, carcasses of cattle soaked in rice wine. The monster was tempted by the offerings, but got drunk and quickly fell asleep.
An abundance of vitamins, trace elements, amino acids, and other components endow Longan with several health benefits. One recent study showed a significant improvement in the condition of patients with damage to the liver and other internal organs, which occurred after regular intake of this fruit.
In Asian countries, longan can be found on supermarket and store shelves all year round. It is almost impossible to determine in appearance whether the fruit is ripe or not, so it is worth taking a couple of berries for a sample. If they have a sour taste, the fruit is still "green": you can choose a different batch or leave the unripe fruits in a warm place for 1-2 days, and then eat them. You should also pay attention to the peel. It should be of uniform color, free from stains, rot, cracks, and damage.
Traditionally, this sweet fruit is used in desserts and drinks: added to cocktails, ice cream, mousses, cakes. In Asia, coconut milk and longan soup or sweet rice porridge with the addition of this fruit is popular. It is worth noting the traditional refreshing drink, which has a tonic and refreshing effect. For its preparation, the pitted pulp is boiled in sugar syrup and poured with water.
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