World's First Longan-Lychee Hybrid 'Crispy Honey' Hits Market at HK$82/kg
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
South China Agricultural University professor Liu Chengming and his team have successfully developed 'Crispy Honey' (脆蜜), the world's first hybrid combining longan and lychee, after 16 years of dedicated research. The breakthrough variety, which inherited approximately 90% of its genetic traits from longan, overcame the challenge of winter frost that previously prevented large-scale cultivation. The new fruit will launch trial sales in mainland China in mid-September at around 76 yuan (HK$82) per kilogram, with the first batch weighing several hundred kilograms. As production scales up significantly by 2027, Hong Kong consumers may soon enjoy this innovative cross-species fruit at more affordable prices through major e-commerce platforms.
Key Points
- The research project began in 2007, using Shixia longan as the maternal parent and Ziniangxi lychee as the paternal parent, employing mentor-mediated pollination to break the natural reproductive barrier between the two species
- The hybrid received official national variety certification in 2023, and its flesh combines lychee's tender, fiber-free texture with longan's crisp sweetness, achieving sugar levels of 20% to 24%
- Initial trial cultivation at a base in Lianzhou, Qingyuan (where winter temperatures drop to minus 3 to 7 degrees Celsius) successfully resolved the frost damage problem after three consecutive winters of testing
- Current planting spans over 3,000 acres across Guangzhou's Conghua district, Chaozhou, Luzhou in Sichuan, and Dali in Yunnan, with yields approximately double that of traditional Shixia longan
- This year's trial supply is limited to several thousand jin, but production is projected to exceed 50,000 jin next year, with full peak output expected during August to October 2027
Why It Matters
The success of 'Crispy Honey' represents a significant advancement in agricultural biotechnology, demonstrating that crosses between botanically distant species can yield commercially viable crops. For Hong Kong, where fresh longan and lychee are popular seasonal fruits, the later maturation period of this hybrid could extend the fresh fruit supply window, potentially stabilizing prices during off-season months. As production scales up and costs decrease, the fruit may become an accessible luxury item for Hong Kong consumers seeking novel agricultural products.
The success of 'Crispy Honey' represents a significant advancement in agricultural biotechnology, demonstrating that crosses between botanically distant species can yield commercially viable crops. For Hong Kong, where fresh longan and lychee are popular seasonal fruits, the later maturation period of this hybrid could extend the fresh fruit supply window, potentially stabilizing prices during off-season months. As production scales up and costs decrease, the fruit may become an accessible luxury item for Hong Kong consumers seeking novel agricultural products.