Cambodian longan winery tries to break through to the big time

Pailin longan wine produced by Vouch Thuch, seen here with US ambassador W Patrick Murphy. - SUPPLIED

PHNOM PENH (The Phnom Penh Post/Asia News Network): Longan aren’t quite as glamorous as some fruits. They don’t have the star-power of mangos or generate the excitement of a pricey seasonal niche fruit like the pungent durian.

Unlike bananas or oranges, which are known and loved everywhere, longan remains a decidedly regional fruit as the primary growers and consumers of it are all countries in South-East Asia – along with China – which is the world’s largest market for the fruit.