Longan fruit taste, longan fruit nutrition.

Compared to other tropical fruits, longan fruit seems quite strange to many people. Two words that can correctly describe this fruit are tasty and nutritious. For more information about this fruit, please check the following.

What is longan?

The longan is a member of the soapberry family, to which the rambutan and lychee also belong.

According to the literal meaning in Chinese, longan signifies the dragon eye. People called it lthat name because the fruit looks like a big eyeball. Similar to other fruits of the soapberry family, this fruit is round in shape and around 2.5-4 cm in diameter. Its skin color varies from yellowish-brown to pale reddish-brown. The edible portion of the fruits is the flesh inside which is translucent, whitish. The fruit has a small, round and hard, and of an enamel-like, lacquered black.

Planting area of longan

The tree is derived from the mountain range between Myanmar and southern China. Up to now, the crops are grown in many countries such as Taiwan, Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Australia, the United States, Thailand, Laos, Mauritius, and Vietnam.

In Vietnam, this kind of tropical fruit is considered a traditional fruit with the main production areas in most of the provinces throughout the country especially, Yen Bai, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Phu Tho, Can Tho, Tien Giang, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Long, Lao Cai, Ba Ria Vungtau, Hung Yen, Son La, and Thanh Hoa.

Nutritional value and health benefit

The fruit is low in Carbohydrates. In 100g of flesh, there are 15.14 grams of carbs. This fruit contains no cholesterol or saturated fats but it composes of good amounts of vitamins, dietary fiber, and antioxidants.

A good source of vitamin C in its flesh fruit provides around 40 percent of the recommended daily value for the body. This vitamin is a natural, water-soluble antioxidant that is good for skin, blood vessels, and healthy bones. Vitamin C plays an important role in improving the immune system and tissue repair. Meanwhile, a decent amount of dietary fiber in longan help controls body weight and cholesterol levels.

On the other hand, antioxidants which is found in longan fruit help battle free radicals which are known as harmful compounds that cause multiple diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Longan fruit includes simple sucrose, sugars, and fructose that help advance energy and revitalize through electrolytes, minerals, and vitamins. Furthermore, B Vitamins present in this tropical fruit maintain vision health and lower the chances of age-related macular degeneration. Also, this kind of vitamin takes the responsibility of dental care.

In addition, it also carries small amounts of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and iron, especially potassium, an important component of cell and body fluids that help control heart rate and blood pressure.

Besides these above health benefits, longan fruits contain a lot of other beneficial compounds. It this tropical fruit every day for good health.

Longan's taste and how to eat?

Some people think that the flavor of longan is similar to that of the lychee. However, they are totally different, in fact, longan has its own unique flavor. It is sweet, juicy, and very fragrant.

The skin and seed of longan fruit are inedible, so just removing them. Besides directly consuming as a snack. Longan fruit can be used to make tea, jelly and sweet soup and cake.

Where to buy?

Longan can be easily found in many places in Asia, especially in Vietnam. For more details, please contact us via [email protected]

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