Longan berry, this sweet delicious juicy fruit called ‘Lamyai’ in Thai, is one of the prized fruits grown in northern Thailand, and the peak of the harvest season comes in August.
Scientific Name: Dimocarpus longan. The longan is China’s gift to Southeast Asia, where it was brought by Chinese emigrants hundred of years ago. Longan also known as “dragon’s eye” (because of an ovoid, white eye shaped mark on the pit). The juicy pulp, which is easily separated from its shell, is white and translucent. Embedded in it is a large, shiny jet black seed. Lychee is it’s better known cousin, and is bigger and fleshier when compared to Longan. The size and shape is similar to a red globe grape. The texture is also grape-like, but the flavor is really unique – sweet, fragrant, refreshing, and slightly floral. One has to taste to be able to derive to the correct explanation of the flavor, and will yet be short of words if asked.
This fair, held in the provincial capital of Lamphun about half an hour from Chiang Mai, features a contest to judge the best fruit and to select this year’s Miss Lamyai.
Next year Lamphun will celebrats its 1,440th anniversary with several cultural and religious events to take place.
Tips on selecting the fruit: Longans are harvested when they are ripe. Choose with skin that is free of any mold spots and tight to the flesh (no air pockets – this means the flesh inside is starting to rot). Longan still attached to the branch are fresher than fruits that have become detached. Longan can be kept at room temperature but should be eaten within a couple days of purchase.
Health / Medicinal Benefits:
Longan is used as remedy for stomach ache, insomnia, amnesia, and dropsy.
The fruit is said to invigorate the heart and spleen, nourish the blood and have a calming effect on the nervous system.
No comments:
Post a Comment