Can I only buy it in season?
It is listed as Main harvest Jun–Aug. It is a year-round fruit, but volume and price can change with the season and variety. The calendar does not guarantee that it is on sale on any given day.
Longan
Longan · ลำไย
If you are curious about the fruit of Chiang Mai and the North, try longan. It is a small fruit with a thin brown rind, translucent flesh and a black seed inside. Peel and eat them one at a time to enjoy the sweetness. Dried longan and fresh fruit have different textures, so it is good to start with fresh.
Thai fruit 220215 Longan ลำไย 002 · Mattis · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized for display · Photo provided under CC BY-SA 4.0
When is the best time to eat it?
Main harvest Jun–Aug
Listed as available year-round
Lamphun Biao Kiao longan: harvest listed for Jul–Sep
Use the main harvest period, or the harvest window for a regional fruit, as a guide. Actual availability can change with growing region, variety and weather.
What does it taste like?
The flesh is sweet, and the aroma differs with the variety. There is a black seed inside the white flesh, so remove it as you eat.
Why this fruit is known in Thailand
It is a good fruit to learn about together with Northern Thailand. Biao Kiao longan of Lamphun is introduced as a regional GI fruit, and it is a fruit enjoyed dried as well as fresh.
Buying basics
- Thai name
- ลำไย
- Harvest period
- Main harvest Jun–Aug
- Regional fruit
- Lamphun Biao Kiao longan: harvest listed for Jul–Sep
- How to buy
- Look at whether it is sold in bunches with the stems or as loose fruit. Compare it easily by choosing from the variety and weight on the price tag.
How to prepare and eat it
- Make a slit in the rind and peel it off by hand.
- Remove the black seed when you eat the flesh.
- If you also want to buy dried longan, check the price and package weight separately from fresh fruit.
Price reference
Bangkok retail prices · October 14, 2026
These are prices by variety and grade surveyed by Thailand's Department of Internal Trade. They do not apply to every street vendor.
| Fruit and variety | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Longan · E-daw (อีดอ) | 50–60 baht | 1 kg |
Keep the price of a bag or tray of cut fruit separate from the per-kilogram price of whole fruit. In this survey, bananas are priced per bunch.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a per-kilogram price with a price per pack?
Look at whether it is sold in bunches with the stems or as loose fruit. Compare it easily by choosing from the variety and weight on the price tag.
Keep exploring
Official sources and references
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and recipes can vary from one restaurant to the next.
Sharing image credit: Mattis · CC BY-SA 4.0