Lychee

tropical fruit · sweet · China · unique flavor

Floral and sweet. Lychees taste sweet and a little bit tart, with a distinctive rose-like aroma that makes them smell as good as they taste. This special flavor comes from compounds in the fruit that are similar to those found in flowers.

Bumpy pink skin. The outside of a lychee is covered in small bumps and usually pinkish or reddish in color, which is why some people call it the 'Chinese strawberry.' The bumpy skin is thin and papery, making it easy to peel away to reveal the white fruit inside.

White creamy flesh. Under the bumpy skin is soft, translucent white flesh that's juicy and delicious. In the center of the fruit sits a large brown seed that you don't eat, just spit out.

Grown in warm places. Lychees grow on trees that love tropical and subtropical climates, and most of the world's lychees come from China, where the fruit has been enjoyed for thousands of years. They're now also grown in other warm regions like Southeast Asia, India, and parts of the United States.

Special plant family. The lychee tree is the only member of its genus, Litchi, which makes it quite unique in the plant world. It belongs to the soapberry family, which also includes some other fruits you might know.