Fruit of the Season – Lamyai – The Bigger, The Better & Sweeter

Fruit of the Season -
Lamyai – The Bigger, The Better & Sweeter
Longans or Lamyai are extremely sweet and juicy and when fully ripe, the skin becomes dry and brittle and very easy to remove. The taste of Longan is very similar to the taste of a lychee, although a fully ripe Longan is somewhat sweeter than a lychee.
The name Longan comes from the Cantonese and means Dragon Eyes and is so called because the black seeds of the Longan can clearly be seen through the translucent flesh and resemble mythical dragon eyes. The fruit is somewhat similar to the Lychee, although in recent years the Longan has become much more popular. The fruiting season is quite short, fruit being available in Thailand during July and August.
The nutritional value of Longan is fairly high, with just a handful of fruit proving the daily recommended dosage of both phosphorous and calcium. A wonderful fruit, sweeter than the lychee, which most Thai people consider to be one of the best locally grown fruits available.
One famous Thai dish which relies upon the Longan to provide flavor is Khao Nieow Lam Yai, a kind of dessert consisting of sticky rice, flavored with coconut and Longan. Alternatively, canned Longan can also be served with ice, as a simple and nutritious dessert which is equally good. Try it!