World's First Longan-Lychee Hybrid 'Crispy Honey' Launches in September at 76 Yuan per Kg
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago6 MIN
Summary
The world's first successful hybrid fruit combining longan and lychee, named 'Crispy Honey' (脆蜜), will hit mainland markets in mid-September 2024. Developed by Professor Liu Chengming's team at South China Agricultural University after 16 years of research, the fruit inherits 90% of its genetic characteristics from its longan mother while displaying a unique cracked skin pattern from its lychee father. With a sugar content of 20-24% and a price of 76 yuan per kilogram, the initial batch of several hundred kilograms targets adventurous fruit lovers in Shenzhen and Guangzhou first.
Key Points
- The 'Crispy Honey' hybrid project began in 2007, using Shixia longan as the mother plant and Ziniangxi lychee as the father plant, employing a misdirection pollination technique to overcome reproductive barriers between the two genera
- The fruit received official national variety certification in 2023 after the research team solved the critical overwintering frost damage problem, enabling stable fruiting even at temperatures as low as minus 3 to 7 degrees Celsius at the Lianzhou base in Qingyuan
- The flesh combines lychee's smooth, seedless texture with longan's crispness and exceptional sweetness, achieving a sugar content (soluble solids) of 20-24%, significantly higher than ordinary longan varieties
- Current planting has expanded to over 3,000 mu across locations including Guangzhou's Conghua district, Chaozhou, Sichuan's Luzhou, and Yunnan's Dali, with yields double that of standard Shixia longan
- Prices will start at 38 yuan per jin (76 yuan per kilogram, approximately 82 HKD), but are expected to become more affordable by 2027 when mass production peaks, with availability planned through major e-commerce platforms
Why It Matters
This breakthrough represents a significant advancement in fruit biotechnology, demonstrating that interspecific hybridization between distant botanical relatives can yield commercially viable crops. For Hong Kong consumers, the eventual price reduction and e-commerce accessibility by 2027 could make this innovative hybrid a regular fixture in local markets, offering a unique tasting experience that bridges two beloved subtropical fruits.
This breakthrough represents a significant advancement in fruit biotechnology, demonstrating that interspecific hybridization between distant botanical relatives can yield commercially viable crops. For Hong Kong consumers, the eventual price reduction and e-commerce accessibility by 2027 could make this innovative hybrid a regular fixture in local markets, offering a unique tasting experience that bridges two beloved subtropical fruits.