What is Lychee Fruit & What Does it Taste Like (Ultimate Guide) (2024)

Lychee fruitis alight,sweet, andnutritiousfruit native to China and popular around the world. It is known for its bright, attractive red skin andjuicy, white fleshthat your teeth sink into upon the first bite. Whether you have it for a snack or incorporate it into your favorite desserts and drinks, lychee fruit will awaken your senses and leave you feeling refreshed!

What is Lychee Fruit

Lychee fruit, a/k/alitchi chinensis sonn, is a small, tropical fruit from the Litchi genus in the soapberry family. Many refer to it as lychee or litchi, although it is sometimes called “lichi” or “alligator strawberry.”

Where is Lychee from? The lychee tree is the sole member of its genus and is native to Southern China, Southeast Asia, and India, where they have been cultivated and used in foods, drinks, and medicine for 2,000 years. Lychee is also grown worldwide in subtropical regions, including Asia, Africa, Australia, South America, Central America, and the United States.

What does Lychee Fruit taste like

Lychee fruit is a sweet and aromatic fruit with floral and acidic notes. The flesh is juicy and packed with light and crisp flavors that favor that of a strawberry or pear with citrus notes. When I first tried lychee in Southern Asia, I felt quite some floral notes like rose. No surprise famous French pastry chef Pierre Herme created one of his signature macarons called Ispahan which combines rose, raspberry, and lychee flavors. You must try it when in Paris!

What is Lychee Fruit good for

Lychee fruit has a dense and watery texture, making it a refreshing snack you can eat raw. However, it is also great for baking and cooking sweet and savory dishes, such as sauces, desserts, beverages, and jellies. Keep reading for additional information on using this dynamic fruit in your next treat.

Lychee vs. Rambutan

Although lychee and rambutan are from the same family, they have notable differences in taste, uses, texture, and appearance.

Both fruits are versatile and unique enough to be eaten raw or added to enhance the flavor of other dishes, baked goods, and beverages. Lychee has a mildly sweet and tart flavor and is more likely to be used in light and refreshing recipes such as sorbets and co*cktails.

Meanwhile, rambutan tastes slightly richer, sweeter, and creamier, making it an ideal pair for creamy and sweet ingredients such as ice cream, smoothies, and creams.

When it comes to texture and appearance, lychee has a waxy, bright red or pink shell with small scaly bumps, whereas rambutan has red and hairy skin. Both fruits have a soft, juicy, jelly-like white flesh, although lychee tends to be more fibrous and rubbery, while rambutan is more firm and creamy.

Where to buy Lychee

Although native to China, lychees are also grown in the United States. You can easily find fresh lychee fruits and canned lychee in local grocery stores, specialty stores, and online retailers. You can usually find them in the grocery store in the fresh produce section alongside other tropical and exotic fruits. Your best time to find them is during their peak season, which can fall between May and September, depending on your location.

How to choose the best Lychee

When selecting fresh lychees, finding a ripe, but not overripe, fruit is important. A ripe fruit will give just a little when you press on the skin with your thumb. It will also have a lush, floral smell and a bright, vibrant red-colored skin. Some varieties may have an orange or slightly yellow color with a pink hue. You will want to choose fruit larger than one inch in diameter.

How to peel Lychee

Only the white flesh of lychee is edible. Before consuming it, you must peel it and discard the husk and seed, which is slightly poisonous. However, since it is a delicate fruit, it is crucial to handle it gently. It is not necessary to wash the lychee when peeling it.

Step 1- Use your thumbnail to pierce the outer skin.

Step 2- Peel back the skin, similar to peeling an orange or mandarin fruit. If the fruit is ripe, the skin should be easy to remove.

Step 3- Observe for signs of fermentation, such as transparency, discoloring, or spotty patches. Then, carefully open the flesh along one side to reveal the seed.

Step 4- Open the two halves, like you would an avocado. The seed should stick to one side.

Step 5- Using your finger and thumb, pinch and slightly dig under the seed until the seed slides out. While it should slide out relatively easily, some of the fruit may tear a bit in the process. If you see a soft, light brown membrane inside the flesh, do not try to remove it, as it will cause you to tear too much of the meat and lose the juice.

Step 6- Place the peeled and pitted fruit in a bowl and enjoy!

How to eat Lychee Fruit

Use chopped lychee in baked goods such as muffins, breads, cakes, pastries, and tarts like I do my chocolate passion fruit tart. You can also use it for creams, turn it into ice cream or sorbet like my raspberry ruby ice cream, or add it to oatmeal for a sweet breakfast treat.

Boiling lychee with water creates a lychee syrup that you can drizzle over ice cream or use as a sweetener for co*cktails or teas. You can also incorporate it into fruit salads alongside tropical fruits such as strawberries, kiwi, mango, or pineapple or serve it on a cheese platter.

In Asian cuisine, lychee is often used in sweet and savory sauces, stir-fries, and chicken and fish dishes.

How to store Lychee Fruit

Lychee fruit has a relatively short shelf life. They are best when eaten within the first day or two to ensure maximum freshness and flavor. Below are the various ways to store lychee fruit depending on how long you plan to keep it:

Room temperature: You can keep lychee fruit at room temperature for no more than 2-3 days, depending on the level of ripeness when purchased. Keep them in a cool, dry place for maximum longevity, avoiding sunlight and heat. It is also crucial to keep them separate from fruits that release ethylene gas, such as bananas, apples, tomatoes, avocados, and melon, as they will accelerate the ripening process and shorten the shelf life.

In the refrigerator: Refrigerated lychee fruit lasts up to one week. Place the lychee in a sealed, airtight container or plastic bag. To help absorb any extra moisture, place a paper towel or clean cloth inside the container or bag. If you have a refrigerator that allows you to adjust the humidity of the produce drawer, set it at high humidity.

In the freezer: You can freeze lychee fruit for up to six months, with or without its skin. To freeze the whole lychee with the skin, remove the stem, taking care not to rip or puncture the skin. Thoroughly wash the lychees to remove dirt or debris, then pat or let air dry. Once dry, place them into an airtight container or freezer bag. Remember that the outer skin may turn brown, but the flesh will remain fresh and edible.

Lychee Fruit FAQ