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THERE are many varieties of edible fruits that are available for sale or for the taking everywhere, from countries in the hot tropical to the temperate zones.  

If they are for sale, then there is little hassle as it is a matter of having the fruits after paying up.  But if they are free for the taking, then it is a whole different page altogether.  

Alternatively, it is even possible to barter off your backyard musang king or plump mangoes for a handful of another kind of fruit.

Fruits come in all colours, shapes and sizes. Some may be large and massive such as watermelons or giant pumpkins, while there are many varieties of small fruits that are quite popular including mulberry, blueberry, limau kasturi, mini gourd (Melothria spp.), and longan.

Longans bear several commonly used names such as mata kucing, longyan, dragon’s eye and longan.  The variety is native to many areas of Tropical Asia and China.

It is within the same family as rambutans and lychees.  The tree is a tough and hardy woody perennial that is terrestrial in nature.  It is able to tolerate bright sunshine out in the open as well as under partially shaded conditions.

In nature, longan trees may grow to a height of 30 metres or more with a large, round leafy crown.  Longans may also be potted in 60 cm jars in which they have no problem staying put and fruiting for years.  

Because the tree produces a lot of lateral branches that are thickly leafed with compound leaves, the canopy that results thus yields a very thick and cool shade for passers-by or anyone trying to have a go at the appealing fruits.

Longan fruits are very small in size and are often termed as marble-sized.  They are mostly borne at the distal sections of branches with each cluster bearing multiple fruits that may often range from 20-50 fruits per cluster.

The fruit is highly popular because of its very pleasant sweetness and its slightly chewy fruit pulp that comes only in an opaque to slightly translucent white.   

Each fruit is roundish and measures approximately 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter.  Fruit sizes that are larger than this range are sometimes seen but they are quite rare to come by.

The fruit wall is a thin yellowish brown cuticle that wraps around the most valuable part of the fruit which is the whitish pulp.  The seed is black and shiny and it is located right at the centre.  

To separate the pulp from the seed and cuticle is an easy task, and once this is done, the only thing left to do is to chew and wolf down all the sweet stuff.

Longan saplings are hardy right from the time of germination and developing into young plants.  The larger saplings or small trees are even tougher from the aspects of physical handling or weather conditions.  

For instance, it is tolerant of open spaces that are exposed to the elements.  It is also comfortable under some shade such as coconut or areca palms.

However, wet weather conditions need more attention for those fruit lovers who treasure their couple of longan trees.  Just keep the soil well drained and free of waterlogged condition and everything will be fine.

A young tree of about 3-5 metres usually carries from 7-20 lateral branches.  All of these tend to spread out radially with the distal ends sagging easily especially during the fruiting season.  Thus the shape of the canopy is usually round and densely packed with thick foliage and loads of juicy alluring fruits.

Longan trees grown in unrestrained open spaces such as within kampung areas are normally able to grow very tall with a very wide spread.  Within urban locations however, the trees are usually given an annual pruning.  

There will be real family fun when this is timed to coincide with the fruit ripening season.  This is when the gardening activity also serves as occasions for wolfing down large quantities of the fruit besides the usual yakyakking sessions.

The soils for planting longan trees are basically the common soils used in gardening.  It is all the better if it is a sandy loam that is rich in organic matter, provided it is does not have too high a water retention capacity.  

Such soils are easily available in many kampung areas all over the state which is therefore a golden opportunity for folks in the ulus to grow them to supply an increasing demand from consumers in urban areas.  

In this respect, perhaps some relevant agencies such as Agricultural Department may chip in with expertise to guide the folks to achieve success.  This is a win-win result because in so doing, the ulu folks may be able to climb out of poverty within a shorter period of time without having to depend all the time on handouts and dedak.

The popularity of longans must never be underestimated.  Virtually everyone wants to have a bite of the juicy fruit, but the problem is that the quantities available in the market at the moment are not that much.  Besides, it is seasonal which means it is not an everyday fruit unlike pineapples or bananas.

Longans are popularly used as fresh dessert fruits where they are eaten fresh without the need for any procedures.  They are also used in the preparation of herbal teas, or as dried snacks or cooked in a number of ways such as in porridge or soups.

In Chinese herbal concoctions, dried longans are added together with sliced ginger, goji berries, dates and some other herbs and then boiled for 40-60 minutes to yield a very appetising drink which is believed to have a calming effect as well as boosting bodily energy.  

Any surplus longan fruits may be fermented and converted into a mouth-watering wine with a variable alcohol content depending on its desired strength.  

However, there is a catch here – the strong ones may deliver a powerful punch and thus, a knock-out must not be discounted.

# The writer may be reached at oskcsp@yahoo.com