What is the difference between longan and guiyuan? One article explains the difference between the two
What are the differences between longan and guiyuan? In fact, guiyuan is also called longan. Many friends have asked about the difference between guiyuan and longan. Actually, the two are the same thing, so is there no difference? Why is it called guiyuan? In feudal times, because "longan" was taboo, it was called guiyuan to avoid the taboo. It should be that the longan produced in Guangxi is very round, so it was called guiyuan. Gui is another name for Guangxi.
The difference between longan and guiyuan
There is no substantial difference between longan and guiyuan; in fact, they are the same fruit.
1. Guiyuan: Fresh longan is shelled and pitted, then dried and called guiyuan, used for food or medicine.
2. Longan: The fresh fruit, eaten after peeling the shell and removing it from the branch. After longan is dried with the shell and pit, it is called dried longan.
The effects and functions of longan and guiyuan
Longan tonifies the heart and spleen, benefits qi and blood, strengthens the spleen and stomach, and nourishes the muscles. It is used for damage to the spleen from excessive worry, dizziness, insomnia, palpitations, deficiency and weakness, weakness after illness or childbirth, and bleeding and blood loss disorders caused by spleen deficiency. Modern medical practice has proven that it also has the effects of beautifying the skin and prolonging life.
The nutritional value of longan and guiyuan
Nutritionists have found through research that every 100 grams of longan flesh contains 12%-23% total sugar, 26.91% glucose, 1.26% tartaric acid, 1.41% protein, 0.45% fat, 163.7 mg vitamin C, 196.6 mg vitamin K, and also vitamin B1, B2, P, etc. After processing into dried fruit, every 100 grams contains 74.6 grams sugar, 35 mg iron, 2 mg calcium, 110 mg phosphorus, 1200 mg potassium, and many other minerals, as well as various amino acids, saponin, X-glycine, tannins, choline, etc. This is the source of its powerful nourishing ability.
Longan is rich in glucose, sucrose and protein, etc., and its iron content is also relatively high. It can promote hemoglobin regeneration while increasing caloric energy and supplementing nutrition, thereby achieving a blood-tonifying effect. Research has found that, in addition to having a tonic effect on the whole body, longan flesh is especially effective for brain cells, and can enhance memory and eliminate fatigue.
The story and legend of longan and guiyuan
It is said that a very long time ago, in the Fujian area, there was an evil dragon. Every August when the seawater tide came, it stirred up wind and waves, destroyed crops, ruined houses, and caused countless people and livestock to be harmed. The surrounding common people had no choice but to flee their homes and hide in stone caves.
There was a local youth with highly skilled martial arts named Longan. When he saw the evil dragon stirring up wind and waves, he resolved to rid the people of this disaster and fight the evil dragon. When August came and the great tide arrived, he prepared wine, pork and mutton, and mixed them together. After the evil dragon came ashore, when it saw the pork and mutton, it was so greedy that its saliva dripped down. It ate up the pork and mutton in a few bites. Because the pork and mutton had been soaked in a large amount of wine, before the evil dragon had gone far, it lay on the ground and did not move. At this time, Longan raised his steel knife and thrust it toward the dragon's left eye. The eye was gouged out. The evil dragon was in such pain that it rolled back and forth. Just as it was about to flee, Longan grabbed the dragon's horn, rode on the dragon's body, and when the evil dragon tried hard to throw Longan off, Longan thrust the steel knife toward the evil dragon's right eye. The evil dragon lost both eyes and howled in pain. After a period of struggle, the evil dragon died from excessive bleeding. Because Longan had been too seriously wounded in the struggle, he also died.
Before long, a kind of fruit grew in this place. In order to commemorate Longan, people called it “longan”, and also called it “longan”.