Product Name: Shixia Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour. cv. Shixia)
Description:
Shixia Longan is a premium longan variety originating from Shixia Village, Shishan Town, Nanhai District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China. With over 200 years of cultivation history, it is recognized as one of the most commercially important and widely planted premium fresh-eating longan varieties in China, officially registered under the national fruit variety registration number GDPR-FC-001 and documented in The Flora of Chinese Fruit Trees – Tropical and Subtropical Volume. According to FAO records, Shixia has been cultivated in Guangdong for approximately 140 years and is regarded as the best cultivar for fresh consumption, consistently producing heavy crops on unusually large panicles. The Pingnan Shixia Longan production region in Guangxi was granted National Agricultural Product Geographical Indication protection in 2014 (Approval No.: Ministry of Agriculture Announcement No. 2105) and further recognized as a National Geographical Indication Product in 2024.
A Longan That Defines Fresh-Eating Quality:
Shixia Longan is celebrated as the gold standard for fresh-eating longan – the variety against which all others are measured. Its fruit is prized for crisp, thick, and sweet aril with a distinctive honeyed fragrance and a clean, refreshing finish. The flesh is milky white and semi-transparent, dry-pack (non-juice-flowing) so juice does not drip when the fruit is opened, and separates easily from the seed. Soluble solids content reaches 21%–26% Brix, with total sugar of 16.8–19.4g per 100g – significantly sweeter than ordinary longan varieties. The fruit is also rich in Vitamin C (43.6–100mg per 100g) and contains γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA, 28.7mg/100g) , a compound with potential calming and sleep-supporting properties that has placed Shixia in the emerging “functional fruit” category.
Appearance:
The fruit is near-round to flat-round with slightly raised shoulders, uniform in size and neatly shaped. The skin is yellow-brown to pale greenish-brown, notably thin and crisp (0.8–1.1mm thick), with fine reticulated surface markings. Average fruit weight ranges from 7 to 12 grams (10.8–12.5g in premium production regions), with an edible rate of 65%–78.6%. The seed is small and round, weighing only 1.8–2.3 grams – about 18% of the total fruit weight – and separates easily from the flesh.
Nutritional & Functional Value:
Shixia Longan is rich in Vitamin C, total sugars, potassium (398mg/100g), and polyphenols (186.3mg GAE/100g) . Its GABA content makes it one of the few fruits with documented calming properties. Dried Shixia longan flesh (桂圆肉) is a prized traditional Chinese tonic, thick and golden-yellow in color, widely used in soups, teas, and health products. The Pingnan production region’s selenium-rich soils further enhance the fruit's nutritional profile, as selenium is an essential trace mineral that supports immune function, detoxification, and cardiovascular health.
Key Commercial Advantages:
Fresh-Eating Gold Standard – FAO-recognized as the best cultivar for fresh consumption
High Sugar & Distinctive Flavor – 21%–26% Brix with a crisp, honey-sweet taste and unique aroma
Thin Skin, Thick Flesh, High Edible Rate – Up to 78.6% edible rate with a small seed
Dry-Pack (不流汁) – Juice does not drip, ideal for fresh market sales and transport
Rich in GABA – 28.7mg/100g, a functional fruit with calming properties
National Geographical Indication – Pingnan Shixia Longan protected since 2014
Superior Processing Quality – Dried flesh is thick, golden-yellow, and highly valued as a tonic
Selenium-Rich (Pingnan) – Naturally selenium-enriched, adding a premium health positioning
High Yield & Stable Production – Heavy, regular crops on unusually large panicles
Growing Regions:
Native to Shixia Village, Shishan Town, Nanhai District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, Shixia Longan is now extensively cultivated across southern China, including Guangdong (Maoming, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Huizhou, Zengcheng), Guangxi (Pingnan, Lingshan, Daxin – the core production region with the only mother tree garden in China), Fujian (Zhangzhou, Quanzhou), Yunnan (Honghe, Dehong), and Hainan (central and northern regions) . The Pingnan region, located on the Tropic of Cancer, has 70% selenium-rich soil and a subtropical monsoon climate with an average annual temperature of 21.5°C – ideal conditions for producing premium-quality longan with exceptional sweetness and nutritional density.
Cultivation Notes:
Climate: Requires annual average temperature of 19–23°C; winter minimum above -1°C; annual rainfall of 1,000–1,600mm
Rootstock: Seedling Wuyuan or Dawuyuan longan is recommended for good graft compatibility and stress resistance
Soil: Deep soil (>60cm), well-drained, pH 5.5–6.8; avoid waterlogged, heavy clay, or saline-alkali soils
Planting Density: Dwarf high-density planting is recommended (approximately 120 trees per mu) with regular pruning to maintain manageable tree size and facilitate harvest; an 8-year-old high-density orchard can yield 2,250 kg per mu
Fertilization: Promoting-flower fertilizer (N:P₂O₅:K₂O=15:15:15) at 0.5–1.0kg per tree in late February; fruit-setting fertilizer (12:10:18) at 0.8–1.2kg per tree with 2–3kg organic fertilizer in early-to-mid May
Fruit Thinning: Retain 20–30 fruits per panicle, removing deformed, diseased, and overcrowded fruit
Water Management: Maintain soil moisture at 60%–70% during spring drought; ensure drainage during rainy season to prevent root asphyxiation
Pest & Disease: Weak resistance to witches’ broom disease in weak trees; monitor for litchi stink bug, fruit borer, and downy blight
Vigor Management: Tree is moderately vigorous with strong branching; suitable for dense planting; drought tolerance is relatively poor – consistent irrigation is important
Harvest Season:
Late July to mid-August – with regional variations: late July in western Guangdong (Maoming, Zhanjiang), early August in the Pearl River Delta, and after August 10 in northern mountainous areas. A premium mid-season longan that delivers gold-standard fresh-eating quality, exceptional sweetness, and distinctive honeyed flavor – ideal for fresh market sales, premium gift packaging, e-commerce logistics, and dried longan processing. With its 200-year heritage, National Geographical Indication status, and FAO recognition as the best fresh-eating cultivar, Shixia Longan commands strong consumer loyalty and premium pricing in both domestic and international markets.