Lychee is a fruit which has an extremely juicy whitish pulp and is usually eaten fresh. It is very sweet and tarty in taste. The fruit is oval shaped. It has a very enticing floral fragrance. It is covered with a rough texture which is pink in color and is to be removed before being consumed. It is very popular in China and India. It has an inedible seed. The sweet flavour of the seed is lost when canned; hence its flavour is best relished when eaten fresh.
In China, which is the largest producer of lychees, it is popularly known as a 'gift for a joyful life'. The lychee tree can grow up to 40 feet high. In India, lychees are available in plenty during the summer season.
Usage
Lychees are best tasted fresh. They are also added in fruit cups and desserts either peeled or pitted. Stuffed with cottage cheese, lychees are served as toppings in salads. When the fruit is eaten dried, it gets a smoky flavour.
Nutritional Value
They are a great source of Vitamin C, a vitamin which the body cannot produce naturally. It is also a good source of vitamin which helps the body to metabolize carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
It is rich in minerals like copper and potassium which help to control the heart rate and blood pressure. Recent studies show that lychees have properties to protect against breast cancer.
While purchasing go for the reddish pink one and avoid the brown ones which are over ripe.
Did you know?
Lychee tree can grow up to 40 feet high!
Lychee seed is toxic in nature.