How to Choose Lychee

Lychee is a juicy, tasty fruit that is grown in subtropical regions. This fruit has the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. Its delicate floral aroma is described as a combination of grapes and roses or pear and watermelon. It is a good source of vitamin C, copper, potassium, and antioxidants.

5-Minute Crafts will help you pick the freshest and tastiest lychee.

How to pick good lychees

• Color: The shade of lychee skin varies from pink-red to plum. The color mostly depends on the variety you buy. Make sure not to pick greenish fruits, as this indicates that they are still unripe. Keep in mind that unripe lychees will not ripen after being plucked from a tree. And eating such fruits is dangerous because they contain an increased level of toxins.
  
  

• Size: When picking fresh lychees, choose those that are larger than 1 inch in diameter.
• Fragrance: Ripe lychees exude a distinctly lush and sweet fragrance, reminiscent of a rose. At the same time, there should be no foreign or chemical odors.
• Hardness: You can easily tell if the lychee is ripe by gently pressing on the skin with your thumb. If it gives way a bit, this fruit can be taken. Fruits that are too soft are usually overripe.

💡 It’s important to choose only fresh fruit that you will eat within one week. Lychee is usually in season from late spring to early fall.

How to eat lychees

• Raw: Raw lychees are a refreshing snack. Use them as a focal point on a cheese platter, complete with mild chèvre and cheddar. You can also add raw lychees along with cashews to oatmeal for breakfast.
• Salads: Lychees are commonly found in fresh fruit salads along with other tropical fruits. They go well with banana, coconut, mango, passion fruit, and pineapple.
• Sauces: In Asian cuisine, lychee fruit or juice is part of a sweet sauce that is served with savory dishes. The fruit may also be included in a stir-fry with sweet and sour sauce or barbecue.
• Desserts and drinks: The fruit can be blended into a smoothie or used in sweet recipes, such as the Thai coconut milk dessert. Quite often, the syrup is made from lychee fruits. It’s an excellent sweetener for cocktails, teas, and other drinks. Lychees can also be added to ice cream or sorbet.