Longan

The Longan (dragon eyes) is so named because of the fruit's resemblance to an eyeball when it is shelled (the black seed shows through the translucent flesh like a pupil/iris). The fruit is often used in East Asian soups, snacks, dessers and sweet-and-sour foods. They are round with a thin, brown-coloured inedible shell. The flesh of the fruit, which surrounds a big, black seed, is translucent white, soft, and juicy.

The fruit can also be dried, in contrast with the fresh fruit, the flesh of dried longans is however dark brown to almost black.