Longan, Dimocarpus longan, is a lychee relative with smooth, tan-brown skin and sweet, translucent white flesh around a shiny black seed with a white spot, which earns its Chinese name, dragon eye. Dried longans are used in Chinese soups and desserts. It is grown on a small scale in Indian gardens and imported from Thailand.
- Botanical name
- Dimocarpus longan Lour.
- Family
- Sapindaceae
- Tamil
- Longan
- Hindi
- Longan
- Parts used
- Ripe aril
- Habit
- Longan; lychee is a cousin, not this fruit
- Last updated
- 2026-10-30
How to recognise Longan
It is a large evergreen tree with pinnate leaves of glossy, oblong leaflets.
Small pale yellow flowers grow in large sprays.
The fruit is round, about two to three centimetres across, with thin, smooth, brittle, tan skin.
Inside, juicy translucent flesh surrounds a round, shiny black seed with a white spot. Lychee has red, bumpy skin.
Fruits hang in loose bunches, and trees can bear heavily in good years.
Traditional use of Longan
Chinese kitchen
Fresh longans are eaten as fruit, and dried longans go into sweet soups, teas and herbal recipes.
Chinese food practice
Thai and Vietnamese kitchen
Longans are eaten fresh, added to iced desserts and drinks, and dried for winter.
Southeast Asian food practice
Modern notes on Longan
Longans are rich in vitamin C. Dried longans are much higher in sugar.
Thailand and Vietnam are the main exporters.
Longan safety
Eat the flesh, not the seed.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to southern China and Southeast Asia.
It needs a cool, dry winter to flower, like lychee.
Bees pollinate it, and longan honey is produced in Thailand.
In India it is grown on a small scale in West Bengal, Bihar and Kerala gardens.
Related plants
Also in Sapindaceae
Questions about Longan
Is Longan lychee?
No. It is a relative with smooth brown skin.
What older names does Dimocarpus longan go by?
Euphoria longan.
Why dragon eye?
The black seed with a white spot looks like an eye.
How do I store longans?
Refrigerate them in their skins; they keep longer than lychees.
Is dried longan healthy?
It is a sweet dried fruit, high in sugar, best eaten in small amounts.
Sources
- Dimocarpus longan Lour. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q193449 (Dimocarpus longan)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.