Longan is a tropical fruit (lat. Dimocarpus longan), a part of the soapberry family, which also includes lychee and rambutan.
Longans are small, round, and have a thin, brown shell that is easy to remove. Inside, they have translucent white flesh that is sweet and juicy, with a texture similar to that of a grape but slightly firmer. At the center of the fruit is a large, black seed, which gives it the nickname "dragon's eye" — which is what "longan" means in Chinese.
Loquat is a large evergreen shrub or a small tree that’s native to southeastern China, but the tree was also introduced to Japan in early medieval ages. The fruits are round, oval, or pear-shaped, with flesh that is subacid to sweet in flavor and very aromatic.
When ripe, loquats are enjoyed fresh or used in fruit salads. They can be pickled, stewed for desserts, preserved with spices, and made into chutneys and sauces. Due to its high pectin content, loquat is often made into jellies or jams. The fruits are also sometimes fermented in order to produce fruit wine.
Meyer lemons are a type of citrus fruit native to China, a cross between a citron (an "original" lemon) and a mandarin/pomelo hybrid. They were introduced to the United States in the early 20th century by a man named Frank Nicholas Meyer, after whom they are named.
Compared to the common lemon (citrus limon), Meyer lemons are smaller and more round, with a deep yellow to orange skin and dark yellow pulp. They have thinner, smoother skin and are less acidic, which makes them sweeter than their more tart counterparts.
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