Fruits and Nuts · FFET10477
Longan
Sweet, juicy longan is eaten fresh or dried as guiyuan for soups and congee.
Melons and other fruits eaten fresh, cooked into dishes or dried.
Longan is a round fruit with a yellow-brown shell and sweet, juicy white flesh. Its main growing provinces include Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and Sichuan. It is peeled and eaten fresh or dried as guiyuan for soups, congee, tea, and desserts.
What
Longan has round fruit with a yellow-brown shell and a scaly surface. The flesh is white, sweet and juicy.1,2
When
Longan ripens in late summer and early autumn. A historical account describes ripening around the seventh lunar month and picking after White Dew.1
Where
The main growing provinces include Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and Sichuan. Historical accounts also mention the valleys of Nanhai and the regions called Min, Guang, and Shu.1,2
How
Fresh longan is peeled before eating. Dried longan, called guiyuan, is used in soups, congee, tea, and desserts; the fruit is also canned or made into paste or wine.2
Why
Longan is distinctive for its sweet, juicy flesh. It is eaten fresh or dried as guiyuan for soups, congee, tea and desserts, which gives it a range of uses.2
Impact and influence
A September 16, 2025 report cited statistics from a research center under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: China's longan planting area remained stable at about 4.1 million mu, with 2025 output estimated at 2.44 million metric tons, up about 11% from the previous year.3