Longan Flower

The name longan or "龍眼" means “dragon eye” in Mandarin, which describes the appearance of the spherical fruit when split open, revealing a black seed surrounded by white flesh. Slightly muskier than the lychee fruit, to which it is related, longan thrives in warm, tropical climates and this one comes from central Taiwan, not far from tea country. Though it is the fruiting body of the longan tree that is most commonly consumed, its flowers can also be steeped to produce a delicate, mildly sweet tea with hints of bee pollen and honey. Lightly fragrant and sweet like a spring fling, sipping longan flower infusion is like walking through a hillside of honeysuckle surrounded by the early morning dew.