Asian fruit longan, popular in Thailand: its medicinal properties and beneficial substances. Where it grows and what it tastes and color. How to eat it and dishes with longan. Longan Is an evergreen tree that is widespread in China, Indonesia, Vietnam and other Asian countries. It was named after one of the provinces of Vietnam, but southern China is considered its homeland. For the first time in history, it is mentioned in 1896, when a Chinese man who came to Thailand brought five seedlings of this plant to the king's wife.
Translated from Chinese "longan" means "dragon's eye". It was named for a reason, because the seeds have a scar that really resembles an eye. The tree is medium in size, and also thermophilic, but can withstand temperatures as low as -2 degrees. Also, such trees can grow up to 20 meters in height.
Longan
- a plant that grows in a humid climate, so you need to make sure that the soil does not dry out. It is better to cover it with water than to let the soil dry out. This can lead to the death of the tree.
Longan fruit
have a similar name to the tree. Their color ranges from yellow-red to brown. Due to its specific taste, these fruits are often eaten raw without the need for additional cooking. Although at first glance, the longan skin appears to be very hard, it can actually be peeled off easily. The pulp of the fruit is eaten, which is tasty, juicy and reminiscent of musk. It can be transparent, pinkish or translucent.
Longan will find a worthy use in many dishes. For example, it can be served as a dessert with coke milk, glutinous rice, or with ice. It will also serve as an excellent addition to spicy, hot dishes, and drinks from longan raise tone, refresh and eliminate thirst. The fruit tolerates freezing well and can be stored in the refrigerator for several days.
Where to buy a longan?
From Thailand, China, Indonesia, it is exported all over the world. For example, in Thailand, 1 kilogram of longan costs about 60-80 baht (this is 60-80 Russian rubles or 2 or more dollars). You will hardly be able to find it on the Russian market, but if you are lucky enough to visit one of the above Asian countries, then here it will be sold all year round. Of course, it is most sold during the harvest season, which lasts from June to August. At this time, all the sidewalks are covered with longan seeds. They sell it in bunches. When choosing a fruit, you need to pay attention to its skin. There should be no cracks on it. It is best to buy a longan, which has been on the shelves of the store for several days, since such fruits are more ripe.
To get the pulp, you will need to get rid of the skin with a knife (or bite and remove it with your hands) and pull out the bone. Because of Longan has a lot of sugar, the maximum storage line in the refrigerator is no more than a week. You can make a longan dry, while it will be stored for a long time and retain its taste.
Longan is used not only as a product, but also as a remedy. In Chinese traditional medicine, it is used for toning purposes. Toning is necessary for those people who have weakness, dizziness, fatigue, heart palpitations. The fruit also contains many minerals and vitamins such as iron, potassium, phosphorus, as well as vitamins A and C.
Cannot be consumed
in large quantities this product for those who suffer from diabetes mellitus, since it contains a large percentage of sugar.
