Lychee is round to oval-shaped and small, about the size of a walnut, and has leathery skin covered with tiny spikes. Initially, lychee fruits are green, and as they mature, they become pink and finally become red.
Lychee is composed of a pearly-white pulp that contains a dark-brown seed at the center, which can range in size from 1/2 inch to 1 inch in length. Firm yet gelatinous, lychee pulp is chewy and juicy with a sweet, fruity flavor.
The aroma of lychees is tropical and reminiscent of roses.
On an average, lychee can be 5 cm (2 inches) long and 4 cm (1.6 inches) wide. Average weight of lychee is 20 grams (0.11 pounds or 1.7 Ounces).
Scientific name of Lychee
Litchi Chinensis
Other names of Lychee
- Litchi
- Lichi
- Lichee
Calories by source in Lychee
- Calories by carbohydrate in Lychee = 90%
- Calories by fat in Lychee = 5%
- Calories by protein in Lychee = 5%
Fats and Fatty Acid profile of Lychee
- Polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) in Lychee = 38%
- Saturated fat (SFA) in Lychee = 28%
- Monounsaturated fat (MUFA) in Lychee = 34%
Nutrition facts of Lychee
*Serving size = 100 grams = 3.55 Ounces = 1/2 cup
*DV= % Daily Value (%DV indicates how much nutrients contribute to a person’s daily diet from a serving of a food. DV assists you in determining whether or not a serving of food is high or low in a particular nutrient.)
| Nutrient | Amount | Unit | DV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 66 | KCAL | |
| Fat | 0.44 | GRAM | 1% |
| Protein | 0.83 | GRAM | 2% |
| Carbohydrate | 16.53 | GRAM | 6% |
Detailed vitamin profile of Lychee, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D, Folate, Niacin, Thiamin, and Riboflavin is shown in the chart.
Detailed mineral profile of Lychee, Sodium(Na), Calcium(Ca), Copper(Cu), Iron(Fe), Magnesium(Mg), Selenium(Se), Phosphorus(P), Potassium(K) and Zinc(Zn) is shown the chart.
Check freshness in Lychee
- Unripe lychee are green / greenish yellow in color ans as they mature it starts acquiring red color
- Ripe lychee is rosy red in color
- Once harvested, lychee stops ripening further
- Fresh lychees will have soft to touch textures with a little bounce when pressed.
- Over ripe lychee will lack that bounce and feel mushy
- Old lychees have hard and thin outer shell
- Old lychees are relatively hard to peel unlike fresh lychees
- The outer shell of old lychees crack when being peeled whereas fresh lychee’s outer shell will rip open when being peeled
- When buying lychees in bunches still attached to its branch, the freshness of the leaf of the branch is a big indicator of how fresh the lychee is
- Old lychees shell acquire a darker red color
Availability of Lychee
- The Seasons of lychee depend on the geographical location where it is being cultivated
- USA – The lychee season ranges from Mid-June – Mid-July
- India – The lychee season ranges from May – June and December – January
- China – The lychee season ranges from June – July
- Australia – The lychee season ranges from October – March
- Thailand – The lychee season ranges from March – June
- Madagascar – The lychee season ranges from November – January
- South Africa – The lychee season ranges from October – February
How to store Lychee
- Ripe lychees can be stored at room temperature for 1-2 days
- Ripe lychees can be stored in refrigerator for 7 – 8 days (lychees will shrink a little, darken in color and Outer shell will become a little thin and hard)
- Do not wash the lychees. However, you can sprinkle some water on it to try and keep it moist
- Keep away from direct sunlight and heat
- Lychees can be frozen and stored for almost a year. Freeze the lychees on a tray for 2-3 hours. After freezing, keep the lychees in an airtight bag or container in freezer storage
Complete nutrition facts of Lychee
Click on the link HERE to download high quality, high resolution and print ready PDF version of the Lychee nutrition chart/infographic.
