Longan Syrup and Related Products

Longan fruits are grown commercially in many countries such as China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam. Longan fruits are demanded in the market in various types such as fresh, dried, frozen, and processed. The flesh fruit is much in juicy, low in acid, and high in sugar, which can be extracted as longan syrup. Longan syrup contains several antioxidative constituents which are found in whole longan fruits, resulting in high-potential products for use as an additive in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Not only longan syrup but also the related products from longan fruits are further developed such as functional drink and bioethanol from by-products of longan fruits. Longan seeds have long been considered a waste product of canned and dried longan processing. The chapter suggests that the bioactive compounds and pharmaceutical characteristics of longan fruits can be applied in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.