Scientific name : Dimocarpus longan
Longan is a sweet, juicy exotic fruit that belongs to the soapberry family. Lychee fruit also belongs to this same family. The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ), has rated Longan as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species. The langsat fruit, also called as Lansium domesticum, that is found in and around South East Asia, is a relative of the longan fruit.
How does the Longan fruit get its name? Logan translates to ‘dragon eye’ in Mandarin. The fruit, when peeled, resembles an eyeball, as the black seed shows through the translucent flesh, like a pupil / iris.
The Longan tropical trees are native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. They can grow to a height of 6-7 m and require sandy soil. They are sensitive to frost and require temperatures that don’t go below 4.5 deg Celsius.
The seed is small, round, lacquered black in color and is hard.
The fruit has a smooth, bark-like shell and when you crack it open, you will find a sweet, succulent and juicy pulp surrounding the seed. 
It is highly perishable and is available either fresh or canned. These fruits are also used in snacks, sweet and sour foods, East Asian soups and desserts.
Lychees are more juicy than longans, but longans are sweeter. The seed and shell are not for consumption.
Dried longan is used in Chinese cuisine. In Chinese herbal medicine, it is believed to have an effect on relaxation. Fresh longans are juicy and white in color while the the dried fruits have a dark brown to almost black flesh.
It is found that Potassium chlorate can cause the longan tree to blossom. But if used extensively, it can cause stress on the trees and can eventually kill the trees.
Nutrition and Health Benefits
Longans are low-calorie nutritious fruits. They are a great source of Vitamin C. They are rich in potassium, whereby they can be effective in maintaining normal blood pressure. It contains other essential minerals like magnesium, iron, phosphorus. This fruit is known to boost the immune system and is also known to improve the rate of iron absorption in the body.
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