Lychee

How to select

Choose heavy, red lychees. Lychees with brown spots are sweeter.

How to prepare

• Break the skin of the lychee with your thumbnail and peel it off. 
• Score one side of the fruit to expose the pit. 
• Open up the fruit and remove the pit with your fingers. 
• Eat pitted lychees plain or use in a recipe.

How to store

Put lychees in a plastic bag and refrigerate for up to 10 days.

Peak season

Summer

Ways to use

• Eat fresh lychee as sweet snack. 
• Pair lychee with cheese when entertaining. 
• Combine lychee with other tropical fruits to make a fruit salad. 
• Use lychees instead of strawberries in salads. 
• Pair lychee with sweet & sour sauce in a stir-fry.

Fun facts

• Lychee is native to China. 
• Sometimes lychee is spelled litchi or referred to as the alligator strawberry. 
• Though lychee is a tropical fruit, it can be grown in some parts of the U.S.

Nutrition info and facts

Lychee contains the antioxidant oligonol, which is thought to prevent the flu. Lychee provides 119% of the recommended amount of vitamin C. Lychee is a good source of the B vitamins niacin, thiamin, and folate.

3.5 oz. lychee = 66 calories, 16.5 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 71.5 mg vitamin C