FoodFood InformationFruitTropical
Lychees, which are also known as Iychee nuts, are of Chinese origin andare highly prized throughout the Far East. About the size of a golf ball,the Iychee has a rough, parchment like skin that is strawberry colored whenfirst picked and then fades to a dusty pink. Beneath this easily peeledinedible skin is a round hard nut, also inedible, which is covered
with a thin layer of light green flesh that is similar in flavor to a muscatelgrape. The entire edible portion of the Iychee is at most equal to two orthree grapes. This minimum of edible yield when combined with the usuallycostly price tag makes the Iychee one of our most expensive fruits. Serveit as a raw fruit.
Lychees are grown in Florida on a limited scale and the crop is usuallyshipped to large urban areas with sizable Asian populations.
Dried Iychees, which taste like raisins, are available twelve months ofthe year. Both the fresh and the dried Iychees are popular Oriental gifts.
The combination of a limited supply and great demand in Oriental neighborhoodsmakes it highly unlikely that you will find Iychees in the average supermarket.
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