Longan ice cream or sorbet
Longan ice cream or sorbet is a refreshing frozen dessert that highlights the sweet, floral, and slightly musky flavor of the longan fruit, a close relative of the lychee. It is typically made with longan flesh (fresh or canned), sugar, and a base of either cream and milk for ice cream or water and simple syrup for sorbet. This treat is popular in Southeast Asian and East Asian cuisines, particularly in regions where the longan is native, such as Southern China, Thailand, and Vietnam.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dessert is primarily a source of carbohydrates from sugars, with very little protein or fat (especially the sorbet version). It provides some key minerals like potassium and small amounts of vitamin C, with a typical serving containing roughly 200-300 calories.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 250 kcal |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbs | 45 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 38 g |
| Sodium | 30 mg |
| Potassium | 300 mg |
| Vitamin C | 8 mg |
| Manganese | 0.3 mg |
| Copper | 0.15 mg |
| Magnesium | 15 mg |
| Phosphorus | 40 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.05 mg |
| Pantothenic Acid (B5) | 0.2 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, longan is often associated with traditional Chinese medicine, believed to have calming properties and to nourish the blood. Nutritionally, the fruit contains antioxidants like gallic acid, which may have anti-inflammatory benefits, making this a slightly more interesting treat than a plain sugar-based sorbet.
