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On August 9, clusters of longan-like fruits with distinctive skin patterns were spotted at Dalingtou (大岭头) Orchard in Aotou Town, Guangzhou's Conghua district, hanging heavily from the branches. The fruit is named "Cuimi" (脆蜜, Crispy Honey), the world's first hybrid between longan and lychee, developed in 2022 by a team led by Liu Chengming, a professor at South China Agricultural University's College of Horticulture.

According to Liu, the new variety has successfully withstood three consecutive winters with freezing temperatures, overcoming previous bottlenecks in overwintering and yield stability. To date, Cuimi has been cultivated on more than 3,000 mu (roughly 200 hectares) across Guangzhou and other regions.

Several thousand jin of the fruit are scheduled to test the market in mid-September, with an expected retail price of 38 yuan per jin.

As for its taste and appearance, Cuimi features a rind similar to longan, while its flesh bears more resemblance to lychee — yet it is even sweeter and more crisp-tender than either parent.

Source: Guangzhou Daily

Video: Guangzhou Broadcasting Network

Author: Joyce