Long Yan Rou - Longan Fruit

Longan fruit is a firm favourite throughout Asia being deliciously sweet and juicy - quite similar to grapes! In southern Asia, longan grows in abundance due to the tropical climate and sandy soil. They are related to other exquisite stoned fruits such as lychees and rambutans - each having inedible shells which encase an indulgent sweet fruit. Longan translates to 'dragon eyes', and was named this because the black stone is visible through the translucent fruit, resembling the eye of a dragon. Although this fruit is enjoyed as a sweet treat, it also has a lot of health benefits and it is widely used in Chinese herbal medicine. However, it's also high in fructose so be sure to not get carried away when enjoying dragon eyes!