Fruit of the season: Luscious Lanzones
MANILA, Philippines – If there is anything really good going on in the Philippines during this season, it is the abundance of tropical fruits at this time of the year.
It is good to know that despite the mind-boggling, crazy weather prevailing in the country at this time of the year, fruits in season are still turning out a good bounty.
One of these seasonal fruits is Lanzones, which is at the peak of its season this September and October.
Lanzones, also known as Langsat, answers to the scientific name Lansium domesticum. It is native to Southeast Asia and grows bountifully not only in the Philippines but also in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
These edible fruits grow in clusters in trees that grow up to 98 feet high and 30 inches in diameter. The fruits are either elliptical, round or ovoid in shape, with a thin skin that resembles potatoes in color. Each fruit opens up to five or six white, translucent lobes, with each lobe containing a bitter seed within. There are varieties of Lanzones with big seeds, there are those with small seeds that are easier to discard, and then there are also seedless options.
Grown in places like Camiguin and Laguna and parts of Mindanao, Lanzones in the Philippines is now a combination of native and imported varieties, with Thailand’s sweetest longkong lanzones now being actively cultivated in the country.
How are they eaten? Generally, press the top part of the fruit, near the small “hole” where it is separated from the branch, until the skin slightly breaks apart. Peel off the skin completely to reveal the sweet lobes of flesh. Put each lobe inside the mouth, let the teeth and tongue “rip off” the flesh from the seeds, enjoy the fruit, and then spit off the seed.
Due to its size and nature, Lanzones is best eaten as is, since not much can be done with it. Some hotels and restaurants, though, patiently remove the seeds manually and make a fresh Lanzones Salad with the flesh. It’s a tedious process, though, so most people consume it as is.
More than just luscious and delicious, the lLanzones fruit provides significant amounts of vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and dietary fiber that are good for the body. Its vitamin content includes Vitamins B-complex (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and folate), while it provides minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium. It aids in digestion, heart health, cholesterol control, blood pressure control, skin repair, and weight management.
So, enjoy Lanzones now that it is in season and reap the benefits that it offers.
