Description
The fruit itself has a thin, leathery, brown skin and is round to oval in shape, measuring 22–36 mm in diameter. The flesh, which is translucent and resembles lychee in texture, is revealed when the skin is removed.
Varieties
- longan var. echinatus Leenhouts
- longan var. longetiolatus Leenhouts
- longan subsp. malesianus Leenh
- longan var. obtusus (Pierre) Leenh
Uses
Adults often eat longans straight out of the hand after peeling the shell and sucking the meat from the inedible seed. When added to savory and sweet warm cereals, smoothies, coconut rice, or chia puddings, minced or chopped longan fruit is a delectable addition.
Nutrition
The raw longan fruit is primarily composed of water, 1% protein, 15% carbohydrates, and very little fat. Raw longan provides 60 calories of dietary energy, vitamin C, riboflavin, and no other micronutrients in noticeable amounts in a 100 g reference quantity.
Cultivation
Longan trees grow well in a variety of soil types, as long as they are well-drained, including sandy loams, sand, and calcareous, rocky soils. A subtropical tree with good adaptation to tropical temperatures with distinct wet or dry seasons as well as subtropical regions with cold, nonfreezing autumn or winter seasons is the longan tree.
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