Considering that one of my favourite fruits is lychee and my propensity for snacking on chewy dried fruits like dried Turkish white mulberries, my little obsession with the Longan fruit should not come as a surprise. Longan (Euphoria Longan) is an utterly magical fruit that is like the sister of lychee fruit. The first bite is chewy but then the fruit yields itself to essentially melting in your mouth—eating this fruit is like a dream.
It has been used by the Chinese for centuries as a blood tonic, calm the mind, + to support and build energy [Qi] for the Spleen + the heart. Most importantly, it has beauty food to add luster and a glow to the skin from head to tooth. Longans provide healthy gums, teeth, + anti-aging properties. As each serving contains eighty percent of recommended daily intake for vitamin c + polyphenols, it is a powerful aid in combatting free radicals + in preventing cell damage. It also has the ability to improve wound healing, which makes it a great tonic for healing scar tissue. It can be eaten fresh, dried, or in tea form to obtain beauty from the inside out.
Longan is not only a beauty food—it is also a potent energy-enhancer + nerve tonic. By increasing the flow of Qi within the subtle body, longans are capable of alleviating insomnia, difficulty in concentration, + memory retention. It is a miracle fruit for people suffering from blood + Qi deficiency, such as myself, as it targets the accompanying symptoms of anxiety, cold extremities, + fatigue by feeding the blood. It quiets the nerves . . .
Related to beauty, Longan is also a great sex tonic for women. It harmonises the hormones + improves sex drive. Chinese women don't call it the euphoria fruit for no reason . . .
Here is an aphrodisiac tonic to send blood + nourishment to the skin and all the other right places:
LONGAN FRUIT BEAUTY TONIC
Large kettle of water
A handful of dried Longan fruit
Sweetener to taste | raw honey [once the tea is cooled], stevia, or coconut sugar
Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Once boiled, remove from heat and place the fruits into the kettle + cover. Let it sit for twenty to thirty minutes to allow its magical properties to steep into the water. Serve hot once done or mix in some sweetener + refrigerate for a cooling tea.
Photography courtesy of Angi Welsch