Can I only buy it in season?
It is listed as Main season June–August. It is harvested all year, but quantity and price can change with the season and the variety. The calendar does not guarantee that the fruit 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 translucent flesh and a black seed inside a thin brown skin. Peel it and eat it one at a time to enjoy the sweet taste. Dried longan and fresh fruit differ in texture, so you may want to start with fresh fruit.
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 season June–August
Listed as harvested all year
Lamphun Biao Kiao longan: harvest listed July–September
Use the main season, or the harvest period of a regional fruit, as a guide. Actual harvests can vary with the growing area, the variety and the weather.
What does it taste like?
The flesh is sweet, and the aroma varies with the variety. There is a black seed inside the white flesh, so you take the seed out as you eat.
Why this fruit is known in Thailand
It is a fruit that is easy to learn about through northern Thailand. Lamphun's Biao Kiao longan is introduced as a regional GI fruit, and the fruit is enjoyed dried as well as fresh.
Basics to know before you buy
- Thai name
- ลำไย
- Harvest period
- Main season June–August
- Regional fruit
- Lamphun Biao Kiao longan: harvest listed July–September
- How to buy
- Look at whether it is sold in bunches with the stem or as loose fruit. If you choose after looking at the variety and weight on the price tag, it is easier to compare.
How to prepare and eat it
- Make a break in the skin and peel it off by hand.
- Take out the black seed when you eat the flesh.
- If you also want to buy a dried product, look at the price and the packed weight separately from fresh fruit.
Price reference
Bangkok retail prices · 14 October 2026
These are prices by variety and grade surveyed by Thailand's Department of Internal Trade. They do not apply at every street stall.
| Fruit and variety | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Longan · E-daw (อีดอ) | 50–60 baht | 1 kg |
Look separately at the price of a bag or tray of cut fruit and the per-kg price of whole fruit. Bananas are priced per bunch in this survey.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a per-kg price with a price per tray?
Look at whether it is sold in bunches with the stem or as loose fruit. If you choose after looking at the variety and weight on the price tag, it is easier to compare.
Keep exploring
Official sources
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good next step. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one place to the next.
Sharing image credit: Mattis · CC BY-SA 4.0