Longan (Dried)
Ingredient Name: Longan (Dried), also called dragon’s eyes
Traditional Chinese Name: 龍眼 (lóngyǎn)
Taste: Sweet
Nature: Warming
Targets: Heart and Spleen
Key functions: Helps increase Qi and warms the body, nourishes blood, calms the mind (shen or spirit)
Usages: Often used in both Chinese soups and teas (also used in desserts and stews). One of the more common ingredients used. This is one of my pantry staples! You can watch this video on how to build your basic Chinese soup pantry!
This is a MUST HAVE in your Chinese soup (or cooking) pantry! These little round, shriveled beige or orange colored fruit can come in a variety of sizes, cuts, shapes, and often without seeds. You can certainly find them fresh in supermarkets and are quite heaty both in its fresh and dried form. They are found in Chinese soups, desserts, stews, and dishes, as well as eaten as dried snacks and in teas.
TCM sees longans as a tonic for the Heart and Spleen. They are especially supportive when you’re feeling:
💤 Fatigued or low in energy
🩸 Pale, dizzy, or weak after illness or menstruation
💭 Anxious, forgetful, or restless
🌙 Trouble sleeping (insomnia due to Heart Blood deficiency)
How do I prepare it?
You can rinse them in cool water before usage to remove any residue from the drying and processing. Dried longan may also be soaked in water to soften before usage. Using hot water will speed up the softening process. Dried longan are great for sweetening Chinese soups and in Chinese desserts.
Where can I buy it?
- You can purchase dried longans from most Asian supermarkets prepackaged
- You can also purchase this in bulk from specialty stores (online herbal shops)
- My go to source is from SouperWell Online. She’s super reliable with stellar quality.
- You can also buy this online from Amazon.
What is the cost?
A package costs around $3-5 CAD
- Price will also vary depending on size and processing
- The darker it is, the more cooked or baked it is, giving it that darker, richer color. These ones tend to more warm, while the lighter colors ones are less. But still warm.
My current go to source is from SouperWell.com. I love her soup packs, I love her individually sourced and packed ingredients!
Any benefits?
✨ Nourishes Blood & Qi – helps replenish vitality and energy
✨ Calms the Spirit (Shen) – reduces anxiety and promotes restful sleep
✨ Supports Digestion – strengthens Spleen Qi and relieves mild fatigue after meals
✨ Improves Circulation & Radiance – especially good for women and postpartum recovery
Any precautions?
- Be sure you are buying dried longans from a reputable source
- Use dried longans sparingly. Their warming nature can create heat if you’re already inflamed, restless, or have acne.
- Dried longans are sticky, sweet, and slightly heavy, which can contribute to dampness, especially if digestion is weak.
- During an active cold, flu, or fever, the body is fighting external wind-heat – and warm, tonifying foods like dried longan can make it harder for the pathogen to clear.
Looking to build your basic Chinese Soup Pantry?
The dried longans is one of them! Check it out in my video to learn more!
To stock up or build your Chinese soup pantry, you can get dried logans from Souperwell.com.
0 Comments
Trackbacks/Pingbacks