Can I only buy it in season?
The guide gives its timing as: Harvest listed as April–June. The harvest period can vary with the growing area and the variety. The calendar does not guarantee that it is on sale on any particular date.
Lychee
Lychee · ลิ้นจี่
If you fancy a fragrant, juicy fruit, try lychee. Peel the red skin and white flesh appears, and one mouthful gives you sweetness and aroma together. If you have had it in drinks or desserts, try the fresh fruit in season as well.
Litchi chinensis fruits · B.navez · CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized for display · Photo used under CC BY-SA 3.0
When is the best time to eat it?
Harvest listed as April–June
Timing varies with the growing area and variety
Kom lychee from Samut Songkhram: harvest period listed as April–May
Use the main season, or the harvest period for regional fruit, as a guide. Actual availability can vary with the growing area, the variety and the weather.
What does it taste like?
The white flesh is sweet, and some varieties also have some sharpness. You peel it and remove the stone in the middle to eat.
Why this fruit is well known in Thailand
Thai lychee varieties such as hong huai and chakkraphat are well known. Kom lychee from Samut Songkhram is also presented as a regional GI fruit, which makes it a good fruit for comparing growing areas.
Good to know before you buy
- Thai name
- ลิ้นจี่
- Harvest period
- Harvest listed as April–June
- Regional fruit
- Kom lychee from Samut Songkhram: harvest period listed as April–May
- How it is sold
- Keep the unit separate for whole fruit sold by the kilo and fruit sold in set packs. Lychee drinks on a menu and fresh fruit may not be in season at the same time.
How to prepare and eat it
- Peel the skin and take out the flesh.
- Remove the stone in the middle and eat the flesh.
- If you want some to take away and some to eat now, say how much you need.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a per-kilo price with the price of a tub?
Keep the unit separate for whole fruit sold by the kilo and fruit sold in set packs. Lychee drinks on a menu and fresh fruit may not be in season at the same time.
Keep exploring
Official sources and references
If you would like to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are worth a look. Ingredients and cooking methods can vary from one cook to the next.
Sharing image credit: B.navez · CC BY-SA 3.0