May 18, 2021 | Edelle Schlegel

3 Lychee Varieties Available to Pre Order 🍒

Lychee also known as Litchi is native to southern China. The fruit was a delicacy in the Chinese Imperial Court.

There are multiple varieties growing in South Florida including: Mauritius, Sweetheart, Emperor, and more!

They are ready to harvest when the outer shell turns predominantly pinkish red and the fruit inside is sweet (some varieties are more/less red than others).

The flavor is sweet, tangy, and floral. It is similar to rambutan and longan but it’s more juicy and tart.

Lychee season is very short and typically lasts 1 month.

Lychees are ready to eat as soon as they are picked. It is highly recommended that they are eaten or refrigerated as soon as you get them.

Mauritius lychees are the most common lychee variety growing in South Florida. They typically are harvested before turning completely red. Once they turn completely red, they start to lose flavor. The flavor is sweet and tart and the seed to flesh ratio is average.

Sweetheart lychees are most people's favorite. They are well known for being super juicy and sweet. They also typically have a small seed.

Emperor lychees are known for being a breathtakingly huge variety. They're about the size of a golf ball. They are definitely our favorite for their size, but they are not easy to grow.