Longan is one of those tropical fruits that can make people stop and ask, “What is that?”
The small, round fruit has a tan, sometimes slightly rough outer shell, but crack it open and you’ll find a beautiful, translucent fruit surrounding a dark seed.
Here at Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm in Naples, Florida, we love introducing people to tropical fruits they may have never tasted before. Longan is one of the easiest fruits to enjoy once you know what to do.
What Is Longan?
Longan, scientifically known as Dimocarpus longan, is a tropical fruit related to lychee and rambutan.
The name longan is often translated as “dragon’s eye,” which makes sense when you see the fruit peeled. The translucent flesh surrounding the dark seed resembles an eye.
Longan is grown throughout tropical and subtropical regions and is also grown here in Florida. Florida’s Department of Agriculture lists Florida’s longan harvest season as generally July through August.
How Do You Eat Longan?
The great thing about fresh longan is that you don’t need a knife or complicated preparation.
Simply take a longan and gently crack the outer shell with your fingers or thumbnail.
Peel away the thin shell.
Inside you’ll find translucent, juicy flesh surrounding one dark seed.
Remove the seed and eat the fruit surrounding it.
That’s it!
The seed should not be eaten. The edible portion is the translucent flesh around the seed.
Longan is delicious eaten fresh right out of the shell, making it a wonderful snack when you’re looking for something naturally sweet and juicy.
What Does Longan Taste Like?
This is one of the questions we hear most often.
Longan has a distinctly sweet, juicy and aromatic flavor.
Depending on the variety and ripeness, people may notice flavors reminiscent of:
Grapes
Pears
Melon
Honey
Brown sugar or caramel-like sweetness
It has its own unique tropical flavor, though, so the best way to describe longan is simply to taste one!
The Florida Department of Agriculture describes fresh longan as having crisp, juicy flesh and a distinctive sweet flavor.
Why Is Longan Called Dragon’s Eye?
Once you peel a longan, you’ll understand where the name comes from.
The translucent fruit surrounding the dark seed looks surprisingly similar to an eyeball.
The name “longan” comes from a Cantonese term associated with “dragon’s eye.”
It’s one of those tropical fruits where the name makes a lot more sense once you’ve actually seen the inside.
Longan Nutrition and Potential Health Benefits
Longan is more than just a delicious sweet treat. It also provides several important nutrients.
Vitamin C
Longan is a good source of vitamin C.
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient involved in normal immune function, collagen formation and antioxidant protection.
USDA Agricultural Research Service studies of longan grown in Hawaii found approximately 55–67 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams in two cultivars studied, although nutritional content varies between varieties and growing conditions.
Potassium
Longan also provides potassium, an essential mineral involved in normal muscle and nerve function and fluid balance.
USDA research found approximately 325 mg of potassium per 100 grams in the longan samples studied.
Copper
Longan provides copper as well. Copper is an essential mineral involved in several normal processes in the body.
Fiber
Fresh longan also provides some dietary fiber. Fiber is an important part of a balanced diet and supports normal digestive health.
The important thing to remember is that longan is a nutritious fruit, not a medicine. Enjoy it as part of an overall varied diet.
How to Enjoy Fresh Longan
Fresh longan is wonderful simply peeled and eaten.
But you can also use the fruit in:
Fruit salads
Smoothies
Yogurt bowls
Desserts
Frozen fruit treats
Fruit sauces
Drinks
Longan can also be refrigerated for several days. Florida’s Department of Agriculture recommends refrigeration for up to about seven days in plastic bags, or freezing the fruit for longer storage.
Longan vs. Lychee
If you’ve eaten lychee before, you may notice some similarities.
Both fruits have a translucent, juicy flesh and a single seed.
But they have their own distinct flavors.
Lychee is often more floral and bright, while longan tends to have a deeper, sweeter and more aromatic flavor.
If you enjoy one, it’s definitely worth trying the other.
Watch Our How to Eat Longan Video
We created a video here at Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm showing exactly how to open and eat fresh longan.
Watch the full video here:
If you’ve never eaten longan before, grab a few and follow along with us!
Discover More Tropical Fruit
Longan is just one of the many unusual tropical fruits we grow and share here at Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm.
We’re creating videos to help you learn what these fruits are, how to tell when they’re ready, how to cut them and, most importantly, how to enjoy them.
Visit:
lovetropicalfruit.com
You can also sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about seasonal fruit, farm updates, recipes, new products, videos and what’s available at the farm.
Visit Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm
Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm
1255 Dove Tree St.
Naples, Florida
We are open to the public:
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
See our full calendar at:
lovetropicalfruit.com
We’d love to introduce you to something new!
English