Lanzones or also called “Lansium parasitisum”,”Longkong” or ”Langsat”. Is grown throughout Southeast Asia. Is a tropical fruit associated with the Philippines whose province in Camiguin has created a special holiday or rather festival to honor and celebrate its harvest. Though it just barely began its domination in the global market, this potato looking fruit has been gaining recognition by many visitors and foodies who are in search of more exotic interesting ingredients to try.
A Lanzones Description
The Lanzones fruit or Langsat are fruit trees from the Mahogany family, Lansium Domesticum. Found in Southeast Asian regions, cultivated in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and the Philippines. The Lanzones tree grows at around 30 meters in height and 75 centimeters in diameter, grown in acidic soil which can be shared with the durian and other wood producing trees. The tree starts bearing fruits five years after it’s planted. The fruit grows in clusters and looks like a larger light brown version of the grape, measuring 3 to 5 centimeters for each ball, any bigger than that it’ll be considered a ‘duku’ or another variety of lanzones.
This small fruit bears a tangy, sweet and sour combination of most fruits, akin to a grapefruit or lychee but less bitter. Having a potato skin looking outer shell that can be easily opened by applying pressure by both or one hand, making a crack. Peeled to reveal an edible translucent white flesh parted into segments, pop it in the mouth, careful not to eat or crush the inedible bitter seeds. These are usually eaten fresh, not wasting a few more days to keep that sour yet sweet taste, before it turns a bland. But they can also be found canned in syrup to help preserve it on its off season dates, candied, or served cooked in sweet and savory dishes.
Lanzones Benefits (Langsat benefits)
A little fruit that contains many nutrients beneficial to the body. These were first used as traditional medicine by ancient people to treat different diseases because these have anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties. But are now more so enjoyed first for the taste, consume for dietary needs, and for the langsat fruit health benefits here are some examples below:
- Rich in vitamin A, great for maintaining eye health, mucus membrane, and protecting the skin.
- These help regulate bowel movements, being high in dietary fiber. These are great for those with diabetes as consuming high fiber foods aids in slowing the absorption of sugar, and improves glucose levels.
- To ensure good heart health. Another great thing fiber does is that it helps manage cholesterol. It increases good cholesterol and eliminates the bad.
- Has antioxidants that prevent premature aging and keeps against free radicals, improving the body’s overall health.
- Relieve migraines and migraine attacks, an impact from having a considerably huge amount of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin).
- Being high in phosphorus content that assists with teeth whitening and strengthening.
* Lanzones for pregnant women? THese are also great for pregnant women or anyone just as long as it is eaten in moderation.
*Lanzones bad effects? Those with diabetes might want to stray away from the fruit as these do have high sugar content. While these are great amount of nutrients, one who has diabetes should not eat too much in one go.
Camiguin’s pride
This refreshing sweet and sour fruit, the Lanzones or ‘Langsats’ are a highly prized fruit in the Philippines. When is lanzones season in the Philippines? (Lanzones season in camiguin?) Growing around April to June which are the flowering season, and August to December marking the harvest season. These are mostly grown in the Southern Islands; Batangas, Laguna, Sulu, Quezon, Davao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Camiguin. There are different varieties of lanzones, the two varieties in the Philippines being, the Duku and Jolo. Duku being bigger in size and a bit more sour in taste, tinier or no seeds, and Jolo having a bit of a bitter taste, both still remaining sweet, refreshing and slightly tangy. Aside from being delicious, there are a lot of benefits to this fruit, with some even utilizing the peels, one of the main benefits of lanzones peels when dried are being used as incense that doubles as an insect repellant.
One of the oldest grown fruits, it is so beloved that since 1979, every third week of October, the province of Camiguin holds a Lanzones Festival for four days to celebrate its harvest, as this is an important harvest that’s also a huge part of their livelihood. This festival showcases colorful decorated streets and houses, a parade of cultural heritage performances, handcrafted goods, dishes,and many competitions. If you are lucky enough to travel to Camiguin during the festival season, you might see this fruit everywhere from the side stalls selling fresh fruit, groceries selling lanzones wine and lanzones ice cream. Which is great for visitors who find the fruit challenging.
Where to buy lanzones? Typically found in wet markets, or fruit stalls inside malls or around the streets in Asia, outside you might find them in Asian specialty stores. A popular fruit outside of Asia, due to many globally exported goods and desire to try out new cuisines. Lanzones has surely made a mark to those who have taken a bite of its sweet, juicy, jelly-like flesh.
