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Nam lamyai (longan drink)
น้ำลำไย: smoky-sweet dried longan simmered into a caramel-coloured cooler, served on ice with the fruit
Longan orchards cover the valleys of Chiang Mai and Lamphun, and every August the harvest is smoked and dried in big brick ovens so the fruit lasts all year. That dried lamyai is the base of nam lamyai, sold in plastic bags with a straw at Warorot Market, at roadside stalls on the way to Doi Suthep and in school canteens across the north, especially in the hot season from March to May. It tastes like toffee and smoked honey with a light floral note, and each glass comes with a few plump, chewy longans at the bottom to fish out. The common mistake is boiling the fruit too long with all the sugar at the start: the drink turns syrupy and the longans go mushy. Simmer the fruit first, sweeten at the end and taste before adding everything. It is ready when the liquid is clear amber-brown, the longans have swollen back to roughly their fresh size and the kitchen smells of caramel. It keeps 4 days in a closed jug in the fridge. Chef's tip: a tiny pinch of salt is the street-vendor trick that makes the sweetness taste rounder and brings out the smoky edge.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the drink
To serve
- 18 ice cubes (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rinse 3 ½ oz dried longan flesh (lamyai op haeng) in warm water, separating the pieces, and drain.
2 minStep 2: Put the longan in a pot with the 6 ¼ cups water and bring to the boil over high heat, about 8 minutes.
8 minStep 3: Lower the heat and simmer for 12 minutes, until the fruit has swollen and the liquid is clear amber and smells of caramel and smoke.
12 minStep 5: Cool to room temperature, then chill for at least 1 hour. Serve over 18 ice cubes with a spoonful of the longans in each glass.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 90 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 23 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nam lamyai (longan drink) take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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