Lychee

Lychee tree

It is a Chinese fruit having a thin brittle shell enclosing a sweet jellylike pulp and a single seed; often dried.

Lychee

Lychee cocktail

Lychee (Litchi chinensis) is a tropical fruit native to southern China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. The fruit is roughly the size of a golf ball and has a pink-red, rough, inedible outer skin. Inside, the fruit is sweet and juicy with a texture similar to that of a grape. The lychee has a long history of cultivation and has been enjoyed for its flavor and health benefits for centuries.

History

Lychees have been cultivated in China for over 2,000 years and were once a favorite fruit of the imperial court. In the 18th and 19th centuries, they were introduced to Europe and later to other parts of the world, including the United States. Today, lychees are grown in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world.

Nutrition

Lychees are a good source of vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. They also contain a variety of antioxidants, including flavonoids and polyphenols. One cup of lychee fruit contains approximately 125 calories.

Culinary uses

Lychees are often eaten fresh or used in desserts, such as fruit salads, sorbets, and ice cream. They can also be cooked in savory dishes, such as stir-fries and curries. In Chinese cuisine, dried lychees are often used in soups and stews for their sweet and floral flavor.

Health benefits

Lychees have a number of potential health benefits. They are high in antioxidants, which may help to reduce inflammation and prevent cell damage. The fruit is also a good source of fiber, which can help to promote digestive health. Additionally, lychees contain a compound called oligonol, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

How to eat lychees

To eat a lychee, simply peel off the tough, inedible skin and discard the seed. The fruit can be eaten fresh or used in a variety of recipes. In some cultures, the seeds are also boiled and eaten as a snack.

Trivia

• The lychee is often referred to as the "queen of fruits" in China.
• In Chinese folklore, lychees are said to bring good luck and prosperity.
• The lychee tree is an evergreen and can grow up to 40 feet tall.
• Lychees have been grown in China for more than 2,000 years.
• Lychees look like a grape with a bumpy rough red or red-brown hard shell.
• The lychee flesh, part that you eat, is a translucent white.
• Lychees have a smooth, dark brown, flat seed in the middle of its white flesh.
• Lychees are sweet.
• You eat a lychee by piercing it with your fingernail, peeling back the skin and squeezing out the fruit.
• Approximately nine lychees contain over 100% of your recommended daily value for vitamin C. (Vitamin C is needed by the body to form collagen in bones, cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels, and aids in the absorption of iron.)
• Lychees grow on a dense round topped tree growing 30 to 100 feet tall.
• Lychees grow best in areas where the summer months are hot and wet and the winter months are cool and dry.
• China and South-East Asia are top growers of lychees.
• Lychees are sometimes called “lychee nuts”.
• Sherbert made with lychee juice is popular in China.
• Lychees are sold in canned and dried forms.
• Lychees are used to sweeten tea in place of sugar.
• In China, lychees are believed to have medicinal benefits. (They are thought to relieve coughing and aid in digestive ailments.)
• The Chinese feed their newborn babies lychees. (Parents use peeled lychee as a pacifier because they are rich in many nutrients.)
• In some areas, bee colonies are kept near lychee trees, as the honey has the sweet flavor of the lychee.

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