Monday, November 14, 2011
Vernacular Name: Kasai, Matoa, Dawa
Botanical Name: Pometia pinnata
Specimens From: Malaysia
Specimens Weight: 30 gm [1.06 oz] (average weight per fruit)
Fijian longan is a tropical fruit mainly from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, The Philipines, East Indonesia, Papua and the Pacific Islands. It is not a very common fruit found elsewhere.
The fruit is round or oval and it is much bigger than the common longan. It is green when immature and will turn purpish red, dull brown or almost black, depending on the various varieties. The shell is hard but it can still be prised opened with both thumbs with a little force.
Once peeled, the pulp looks similar to a lychee than to the longan but the taste is not as sweet nor juicy. The pulp is slightly yellowish in colour. This particular variety is only mildly sweet and the texture is chewy. It has a single seed which looks like a type of nuts. The seed is edible too and it is usually consumed roasted or boiled.
Fruit: Fijian longan; Pometia pinnata; Sapindaceae.
Other fruits in the same family: Lychee, Pulasan, Longan, Rambutan.
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