Longan lychee (k.g.)

Description

Longan and lychee are closely related tropical fruits in the soapberry family, both with sweet, white flesh inside a tough, inedible shell, but they have distinct differences. Longans have a smooth, yellowish-brown skin, a floral, honey-like taste, and more flesh than lychees. Lychees have pink, dimpled skin and a flavor with hints of citrus and rosewater.

Longan

• Appearance: Smooth, light tan or yellowish-brown skin that is easy to peel. The name “longan” means “dragon’s eye” because the black seed visible through the translucent, off-white flesh resembles an eye.
• Taste: Sweet, floral, and honey-like.
• Texture: Gelatinous flesh.
• Flesh amount: Generally has more flesh compared to lychees.

Lychee

• Appearance: Rough, pink, bumpy skin that is slightly dimpled.
• Taste: A flavor that can have citrus and rosewater notes.
• Texture: Gelatinous and juicy.
• Flesh amount: Less flesh than longans. Similarities

• Family: Both belong to the same family, Sapindaceae.
• Structure: Both have an inedible outer skin and a translucent, gelatinous flesh with a single, inedible seed inside.
• Usage: Both can be eaten fresh, dried, or used in juices, desserts, and fruit salads.