Longan
Get to know longan — a sweet fruit similar to lychee, rich in vitamin C. Nutritional content, health benefits, and how to pick fresh longan.
What Is Longan?
Longan (Dimocarpus longan) is a small round fruit with thin, light brown skin and a translucent, whitish-clear flesh that is sweet and juicy, wrapping around a glossy black seed at its center. This fruit belongs to the same family as rambutan and lychee, and is often called the "dragon eye" because its seed resembles an eyeball when viewed up close.
In Indonesia, longan is a favorite fruit for casual snacking because it's easy to peel and has a sweet, refreshing taste. Besides being eaten fresh, dried longan is also popular as an ingredient for warm drinks and mixed kolak (Indonesian compote).
Nutritional Content of Longan
Per 100 grams of fresh longan:
Products You Might Need
* Affiliate links — you can help support KulinerBDG by shopping through them
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~60 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | ~15.1 g |
| Vitamin C | ~84 mg |
| Potassium | ~266 mg |
| Fiber | ~1.1 g |
Longan's vitamin C content is quite high for such a small fruit, even coming close to that of an orange.
Health Benefits
- Supports immune function — its fairly high vitamin C content helps maintain daily immune function.
- Helps maintain blood pressure — the potassium in it helps balance the body's sodium levels.
- Quick source of energy — its natural sugar content provides a convenient energy boost when you're tired.
- Contains antioxidants — polyphenol compounds in longan are believed to help fight free radicals.
Ways to Enjoy Longan
- Eaten fresh — peel the skin, remove the seed, then enjoy as a fresh snack anytime.
- Mixed into es buah (fruit ice) or sop buah (fruit soup) — longan flesh adds natural sweetness to mixed cold drinks.
- Dried longan — boiled together with ginger and sugar as a warming hot drink.
- Kolak or pudding — combined with coconut milk and palm sugar for a rich, sweet dessert.
How to Choose & Store
- choose longan with yellowish-brown skin that is still slightly dry and not soft/mushy
- pick up a cluster of longan — fresh fruit will feel heavy and firmly packed
- avoid fruit with wet, slimy skin, or a sour, fermented smell
- store at room temperature only if you'll finish it within 1-2 days
- for longer storage, keep it in the fridge in a container or perforated bag to retain moisture
- in the fridge, fresh longan can last up to 1 week without losing much flavor
Practical Tips
- Soak briefly in cold water before peeling so the skin comes off more easily and the fruit feels fresher.
- Freeze peeled longan with the seeds removed as a stock of cold snacks or a mix-in for ice on hot days.
- Separate any softened fruit from the cluster so it doesn't speed up spoilage of the other fruit around it.
- Use dried longan as a substitute for raisins in cakes or mung bean porridge for a flavor variation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between longan and lychee?
Is it safe to eat longan every day?
Why does longan sometimes taste less sweet even when ripe?
Want to see this ingredient used in a recipe?
Explore the recipe collection at KulinerBDG for everyday cooking inspiration.
Browse Recipes →
