Along the narrow alleys of busy Divisoria, one would find among the many varieties of fruits sold by persistent pushcart vendors – small, round, brown-skinned fruits, as big as the lanzones, usually with long stems tied up in clusters. This is the longan fruit and not many people are familiar with it. In supermarkets, longans are laid neatly on rectangular styrofoam trays, with stem on, and securely cling-wrapped. They sell for about P90 to P120 per kilo and the price varies depending on the season. Canned longans in syrup are also available in supermarkets, often imported from China, Thailand, or Taiwan.
People often wonder what they are, as the fruit is not native to the Philippines. They originated from China. The longan or Dimocarpus longan, known as the little brother of the lychee, is also referred to as “dragon’s eye or eyeball.” The longan fruit does not grow as big as the lychee but the flesh is also whitish, translucent, sweet, and of the same texture. The outer skin is reddish brown, not so thick, and is easy to peel off. The seed is round, dark brown in color, with a white spot on the top, making it look like an eye.
The longan is also called “euphoria fruit” as the Chinese have included it in the list of fruits that retard the ageing process and promote sexual health. Some sources say that the longan grows in the Philippines but they do not bear fruit here. This, however, was disproven when the longan tree on our side yard started to bear fruit since three years ago. The fruits are bigger than the ones sold in Divisoria or in supermarkets. And the seeds are bigger too. Last year, our tree bore a lot of fruits in July, so that the drooping branches, heavy with fruits, almost touched the ground. After two months, when all the fruits were consumed, the tree again started to blossom and bore fruits, but this time, they were smaller and not that many. This is the first time that this happened, because in previous years, the tree produced fruits just once a year. This is probably the effect of climate change or the unusual weather pattern that the country experiences nowadays.
Health Benefits
The New Health Guide (http://www.newhealthguide.org/Longan-Fruit.html) says that the longan flesh is a good source of Vitamin C and antioxidants. With its Vitamin C content, eating longan with lean meat will hasten iron production and eventually blood production. Antioxidants protect the body against free radicals, which when accumulated in human cells speed up the ageing process. In addition, eating the fruit improves skin appearance, as it adds “luster, shine, and suppleness”. Other benefits include protection from heart disease, chronic inflammation, and even cancer.
Morton (1987) (at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/longan.html#Description) even mentions that the fruit contains Vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, carbohydrates and a little amount of protein.
In addition to the ones mentioned above, Chinese medical experts also claim that there are other benefits that can be gained from eating the fruit. Some of these are improvement of the eye function, relief from stress, antidote for poison, and even improved sexual life. The dried flesh can be a cure for insomnia.
The longan can also be an added ingredient to Chinese soup and fried chicken gravy. Aside from being nutritious, the by-products are also beneficial. The longan seed contains saponin, a chemical substance that produces foam found in beer, shampoo, and soap. Researchers also claim that food saponins can reduce cholesterol levels. In Vietnam, the eye of the seed is used as anti-venom for snake bites. The rind can be used for fuel.
In view of these beneficial effects, the longan is called a “health-boosting superfruit.” It’s amazing how these little fruit can be a giant when it comes to nutritional value. It may be a little bit on the expensive side but the cost is well worth it considering the benefits that it gives to the human body.
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