Lovely Lychee
Beautiful, aren't they? You might not even recognize these little pink packages if all you've ever had is lychee from a can.
Lychee (Litchi chinensis) originated in South China and Vietnam but are now cultivated throughout most sub-tropical and tropical climates. In Hawaii, they were first introduced in 1893 when Mr. Ching Chock planted a tree at the corner of Nu`uanu and School Streets. Isn't it funny that we know the exact location and variety of the first planting? These days that intersection is bounded H1, a gas station and TCBY -- without a lychee tree to be found.
Hawaiian lychee are grown predominantly on the Big Island where the finicky trees are most likely to get the optimal combination of wind, temperature and water they require to produce fruit. Even without fruit, the trees are a beautiful hardwood tree with dense, evergreen foliage. But hey, I wouldn't be writing about the tree if not for its luscious fruit.
The ping pong ball sized lychee pictured above from the KCC Farmer's Market a few weeks ago are larger than usual. Sizes are more commonly in the jawbreaker range. Unlike ping pong balls and jawbreakers though, eating lychee has nutitional benefit. These close cousins to the longan and rambutan are packed full of vitamin C and potassium, so you can feel good about popping back a few.
To eat, break open the thin skin of a lychee and pop out the translucent flesh within. The texture is similar to a grape, but sweeter and smelling faintly of rosewater. In China, these pearly gems have rightly been called the King of the Fruits.
Sadly, the local lychee season is now waning, lasting from roughly June through September. If you can still find local lychee in the market, grab them fast because they're on the way out.
Further reading:
→ Nutritional information from the USDA
→ Lychee can thrive in your own yard from the Honolulu Advertiser
Alan,
Great photos and great commentary. These fruits are one of my faves. They have a taste like no other and are so fun to eat. Sometimes I find them here even in Torino, where the are shipped from Madagascar.
I've had these before, and I didn't think I'd like them (I'm not much of a fruit person) but I loved these. They're just so sweet and juicy. Those are pretty pictures too.
How much are they going for these days? I see them at the market but can't remember the country of origin although we do get a few things from the Middle East, Africa, and South Africa.
The best ones though are always those you get for free, either from swiping them off the neighbor's tree or harvesting them from your own backyard. ;-)
Gia - I'm surprised you could get lychee in Italy. In the off-season most of ours come from various locations in Southeast Asia.
Madeleine - What?! Not a fruit person?! Nah, seriously though, thanks for stopping by and for the kind words.
Rowena - I was generally seeing lychee for about five bucks a pound. That can add up in a hurry, but it also made me really weigh how much I wanted them. I usually caved and bought a bag. The best was when the neighbor's tree started dropping lychee on the sidewalk. They were about half the size, but twice as sweet for the price!
I like some fruit, but somehow I missed out on that fruit liking gene. My Mom likes fruit, my Dad likes fruit, and my brother likes fruit, but not me sadly...
Maybe someday I will like fruit, I hope so anyways!