Lychee

Litchi chinensis

fruit

A fruit with a rough pink shell and pearly, fragrant flesh around a large stone, from a tree of southern China, the only species in its genus; on Réunion, it is the fruit of the year-end holidays. 100 g provide 72 mg of vitamin C.

Origin

Southern China

Season (United States)

all year round · grows in your region

Preparation

The shell is cracked with the fingertips and the flesh eaten raw, spitting out the stone. Fully ripe and after a meal: unripe, in large amounts and on an empty stomach, it has caused severe hypoglycemia in children.

Molecules

Vitamin CIn small amounts, not counted Anthocyanins · Flavanols and procyanidins

Did you know?

Under the Tang, the concubine Yang Guifei adored them; a poem by Du Mu shows horsemen raising the dust to bring them to her — a variety is still called “Concubine's Smile”.