Have you enjoyed a recent meal at a Chinese restaurant? Then you might have noticed an odd fruit on the menu or served as part of your dessert – lychee. This little red gem that resembles a cross between a raspberry and a strawberry is named “lychee,” a Chinese word for “present for a joyful life.” The lychee is a tropical fruit that is mostly grown in China but also cultivated in other parts of the world like Thailand, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Japan. Up until recently, it was mostly a crop in Southeast Asia, but now growers exist in parts of the US where a climate of heat, humidity, and little frost is perfect for the lychee.

Lychee is round and is about the size of an apricot. The outer covering is a scaly red skin that cannot be eaten, but once removed, it reveals a whitish flesh that has a texture similar to a grape. Within the fruit is a small seed that should be taken out. That seed is poisonous and must not be eaten.

Great Nutrition and Delicious Taste for Desserts and Other Foods

Like most other fruits, lychee is a nutritional food that offers various health benefits to the body. It contains vast amounts of vitamin C – about nine lychee will provide an adult with his or her recommended daily amount of this important vitamin. Additionally, lychee offers such minerals as phosphorous, copper, and potassium, yet is low in calories.

Lychee has been used throughout the years to aid in stomach issues and people sometimes eat them to alleviate complications from diarrhea. The Chinese culture recommends lychee to eliminate pain and fatigue. Parts of the lychee plant, mostly the flowers and bark, are blended as a gargle to help with throat problems. Lychee has been used in tests because it contains flavonoids, which have been shown to fight cancer cells.

The fruit offers a sweet taste with added crunch. Some people say lychee has a sensual taste like roses. The best way to enjoy lychee is to eat it fresh. Add it to salads as a wonderful topper instead of apples or dried cranberries. Other ways to serve lychee include layering the fruit with ice cream and whipped cream as a type of parfait or stuffing it with cream cheese. The fruit is also a prime ingredient in puddings, ice cream, and other desserts in China. Lychee can also be sliced and added to meats like ham or beef. Lychee have been added to syrup and sold as canned fruit from China for a number of years. Another new way to enjoy lychee is as a martini. Lychee martinis are fast becoming exciting beverages because they are sweet and invoke thoughts of Asia.

Lychee can be dried which is considered one of the best ways to preserve them. Once dried, they keep for about a year whereas fresh lychee only stay for about a week when refrigerated. When choosing lychee, select those with a firm shell that has no cracks. It is best if the fruit is still attached to its stem. The fruit’s color should be pink or red but never brown. Brown lychee are overripe and will not be as tasty.

Last Thought on Lychee

Although popular in Asia, lychee is gradually gaining a footing in other areas around the world. That’s because other cultures are fast realizing that this fruit is not just pretty to look at but also a pleasure to eat. Try this exotic fruit in your salads, desserts, and main entrees for some fruity goodness and added vitamin C.