Can I only buy it in season?
It is listed as Harvest listed May–Sep. The harvest period can vary by growing region and variety. The calendar does not guarantee that it is on sale on any given day.
Longkong
Longkong · ลองกอง
Meet longkong, small brownish fruit that hang in bunches. Peel the thin rind and the translucent flesh comes out in segments. The name is close to longan, but the shape and the way it eats are different. If you see both fruits side by side at a market, buy a little of each and compare.
When is the best time to eat it?
Harvest listed May–Sep
Harvest period varies by growing region
Tanyong Mat longkong: harvest listed for Aug–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?
You can taste both sweetness and tartness in the translucent flesh. If a segment has a seed, take it out instead of chewing it.
Why this fruit is known in Thailand
Part of the fun is peeling small fruit one at a time from the bunch. Tanyong Mat longkong of Narathiwat in the South is known as a regional GI fruit, so it is a good fruit to learn about together with its growing region.
Buying basics
- Thai name
- ลองกอง
- Harvest period
- Harvest listed May–Sep
- Regional fruit
- Tanyong Mat longkong: harvest listed for Aug–Sep
- How to buy
- Longan and longkong are different fruits. If you order after looking at both the name and the look of the bunch, it is easy to get the fruit you want.
How to prepare and eat it
- Pull one fruit off the bunch.
- Peel the rind and eat the flesh.
- The seed can taste bitter, so remove any seeds you see and eat slowly.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Longkong | 40–50 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?
Longan and longkong are different fruits. If you order after looking at both the name and the look of the bunch, it is easy to get the fruit you want.
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.