Dried Longan

Also known asDried Dragon's Eye · 桂圆干 · 龙眼干

Name: Dried longan — longan (Dimocarpus longan) fruit that has been dried, sold either in the shell or as dark brown, wrinkled pieces of flesh, known in Chinese as guiyuan or longyan rou. The fresh fruit has its own page under Tropical Fruits.

Description

Longan is native to southern China and Southeast Asia, and the name means “dragon eye” in Chinese, describing the round fruit with its dark seed showing through the translucent flesh. Drying longan has long been a way of keeping it beyond the short fresh season, and dried longan is a staple of Chinese cooking and traditional medicine.

The dried flesh turns brown to almost black, with a chewy, raisin-like texture and a sweet, slightly smoky, caramel-like flavour that is different from the fresh fruit's light sweetness. It is widely used in sweet soups, teas, desserts and herbal tonics.

Main nutrition value

Dried longan is a concentrated source of natural sugars and carbohydrate, and provides some potassium and vitamin C, which is reduced by the drying process.

How best to be consumed

Dried longan is often simmered into drinks and soups, rather than eaten alone.

1. Simmer with red dates and goji berries for a traditional sweet tea or soup.
2. Add to sweet soups and desserts, or to congee, where it softens and sweetens the dish.
3. Eat a few pieces as a chewy snack, similar to raisins.
4. Use in herbal tonics and chicken soups, as is common in Chinese cooking.
5. Store in a cool, dry place in a sealed container.

Overconsumption could cause…

Drying removes water but leaves the sugar, so dried fruit is far more concentrated in sugar and energy than the fresh fruit.

1. High sugar and calorie intake from eating many pieces at once.
2. Digestive upset, such as bloating or loose stools, from the concentrated sugar.
3. A warming effect in traditional Chinese medicine, which traditionally advises against heavy use in some conditions — ask a practitioner if unsure.
4. Tooth decay, since the pieces are sticky and sweet.

GroupsDried FruitsSoapberry family (Sapindaceae)Low fatLow sodiumRich in ironRich in potassiumRich in vitamin CChineseDried

Made fromLongan

Related foodsDried LycheeDried Goji BerriesCurrantsDried DatesDried PersimmonDried Pear

Wikipedia — Longan, used for origin and general background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longan Wikipedia — Dried fruit, used for general background on drying and storing fruit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dried_fruit