The
size of a large grape with a rough, slightly spiky, leathery shell that
is pink to deep red or brown. The longan is a related fruit with a smoother
brown shell. Ripe when color ranges from pink to deep red to brown. Peel
the shell starting at stem and eat the white to slightly translucent meat
from around the large inedible seed. Highly aromatic with a melon-like
flavor. Native to China.
