Exotic Fruit - Longan and Lichee
If you’re a fan of grapes, you just might like longans and lichees. Both are sweeter than grapes (although there is a variety of sour lichees). On the inside, both have a white milky flesh and resemble a rounder, spherical grape in shape. On the outside, they are very different.
The longan has a yellow-brown skin that’s usually thin and slightly bumpy, and has a dark brown, inedible seed. The lichee has a pinkish-red prickly thick skin. Both the longan and lichee are usually purchased in bundles with their thin, long woody stems attached. Lately, it’s been hard to find lichees in our area, due to some shipping problems. On the other hand, longans are usually far cheaper anyway.
Try a few out - usually available at Oriental markets (Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai) - by peeling off the skin and nibbling on the tender, juicy flesh. I sometimes make a fresh fruit salad with one or the other, as well as pears, orange segments, pineapples, and kiwi fruit. (Add a touch of brown sugar to cut the sour overtones of these fruits).
(c) Copyright: 2005-present, Raj Kumar Dash, http://www.curryelvis.com/
tag this
