18 Useful and Interesting Facts About Lychee or Chinese Plum

Lychee is a tropical fruit native to the lowlands of China, Taiwan, Australia, and Southeast Asia and is found in abundance during the summer seasons. The bright and beautiful fruits grow on a medium-sized evergreen tree with a rounded, slightly oblong shape. Lychee fruits are also called foxes, Chinese plum, litchi, and liji.

Interesting Facts About Lychee

The tree, in the period of fruiting, has a stunning sight, on which attractive balls with a slightly tart pulp and taste of grape are hung. The outer surface of the Chinese plum is covered with a rough texture, with a slightly peelable red skin. The inside of the fruit consists of white, sweet, and juicy pulp, inside which there is a dark large seed.

1. These royal fruits contain many nutrients and valuable substances that are so important for human health. Ligi contains a high dose of vitamin C, which exceeds the amount of its content than oranges and lemons. The commonwealth also contains vitamin D, B-9, and PP. And, the fiber in 100 grams, as much as the apple contains along with the peel.
2. Minerals contain magnesium, copper, zinc, iron, and manganese, which are essential for blood circulation and the formation of red blood cells (erythrocytes).
3. Also, the nicotinic acid present in the fruit expands blood vessels and increases their elasticity. Besides, it is full of vegetable protein.
4. The fruit is low in calories, contains no saturated fat or cholesterol, but is rich in dietary fiber, which is very important for people who are worried about being overweight.
5. Chinese plums contain various phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamin C, and proanthocyanins, which can neutralize the growth of free radicals and protect the body from serious ailments and cancer.
6. In traditional Chinese medicine, the lychee is considered a "warm" element that helps nourish the blood and warm the body.
7. It is believed that lychees are a natural aphrodisiac, in India, it is even called the fruit of love.
8. Remember! Along with the beneficial properties, lychees can be harmful. Unripe fruits contain natural toxins that can lead to hypoglycemia, which causes fever and seizures. Foods that are consumed in excess are at an increased risk of sores and acne.
9. Before eating lychee, you should first peel them. The skin of these exotic fruits is about as soft as that of oranges. You need to start peeling from the very top, and the rest of the skin should come off easily. It should be thrown away or used later (when drying and grinding) to flavor tea.
10. There is a brown bone inside the pulp, which must be removed and disposed of, as it contains toxic substances, and the light pulp should be eaten raw. You can also add ripe lychee to a fruit salad or make a sweet sauce to accompany savory dishes.
11. Get creative with making sweet syrup and then serving it in cocktails, custards, ice cream, sorbet, pancakes, or to flavor sweet summer teas. Chinese plum goes well with oatmeal, complements a cheese or fruit plate. Freezing, drying, and various canning methods can be applied to this delicacy.
12. Fresh wolfberry is available from June to October. The fruit fully ripens on the tree itself and no longer ripens after harvest. When buying a hero from the tropics, choose fruits of bright color, from light red to dark red color and without spots. Their skin should be tough and leathery, but supple, and at the same time, not dull, dry, or too dark. The inner flesh should be fresh and free from cuts and mold. If the fruit tastes bitter or sour, it means that it is not fully ripe.
13. When sold, sellers on the sales floor should lay out these fruits in the open state in small quantities and replenish the stock only when it is minimal, to ensure their constant quality.
14. Keep in mind that lychees will discolor in just a couple of hours if left in an air-conditioned store as dehydration makes them brown. The fruit may look bad, but the sales staff are obliged to educate consumers that the quality of the product is not affected by the incoming airflow.
15. It's no secret that Australian lychees are the freshest and finest in the world. Australian producers do not use sulfur dioxide to preserve skin color, so they are always fresh, sweet, juicy, and natural-looking. Australia has a longer lychee season and has been available fresh for longer than other countries.
16. Proper storage and handling of lychee is the key to increasing sales and offering consumers the best fruit possible. The fruit has a good shelf life and can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days and kept in the refrigerator for up to five weeks.
17. To avoid moisture loss, keep the room humidity at 90-98%. To prevent discoloration from red to brown and to avoid moisture loss, wrap in a paper towel and store in a perforated plastic bag.
18. Important! Lychees must be peeled before serving, as they quickly change color and quickly deteriorate.