University of FloridaSolutions for Your Life

Download PDF 
Publication #HS1106

Lychee from Florida1

A.R. Rafie, Jonathan Crane, Carlos Balerdi, Steven Sargent2


Figure 1. 

Description

Lychee is originally from southern China. The word “Lee Chee” in Chinese means, “Gift for a joyful life.” Lychee grows on trees in clusters of 2 to 30 fruits. The fruit has a unique, rose-like aroma and flavor. The fruit is very attractive, sweet, juicy and delicious. Lychee is high in vitamin C.

Packing for Shipment

For higher quality, hydrocool fruits to 41oF, de-stem, and pack as soon after as harvest as possible. Hydrocooled using chlorinated water (100 to 200 parts per million free chlorine) and de-stemmed fruit lose less water and maintain peel color better than non-hydrocooled fruit and fruits shipped with the panicle attached. Usually lychee is packed in 5- to 10-lb fiberboard boxes for the Asian-American market. If hydrocooled, wrap the fruit with a polybag prior to packing to maintain freshness.

Supply

Heaviest production is in June, with a lighter supply in mid May and early July.

Table 1. 
Month


 Supply
January
 -
February
 -
March
 -
April
 -
May
 Light
June
 Heavy
July
 Light
August
 -
September
 -
October
 -
November
 -
December
 -



Postharvest Life

Lychee will not ripen off the tree, so they must be picked ripe, when the pulp is at its optimum sweetness. Lychee is considered highly perishable and the peel will become brown and dry soon after harvest if not cooled immediately. Hydrocooled lychee may have a transit, storage and shelf life of 14 to 21 days. For highest quality, it is imperative to maintain the cold chain from farm to the retail store. Brewster fruit stores best at 38oF; Mauritius fruit at no less that 41oF, with 90-95% relative humidity.

Preparation

Lychee fruit can be peeled, pitted, and eaten out of hand; added to fruit cups; stuffed with cottage cheese; and blended with ice cream, gelatin or fruit juices. Lychee may also be placed on top of baking hams or grilled on top of steaks. Unpeeled lychee can be frozen and later thawed for immediate consumption. Lychee wine is popular.

Footnotes

1. This document is HS1106, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date July 2007. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. A. R. Rafie, Extension Agent, Miami-Dade County South Extension Office, Homestead, FL; Jonathan Crane, Professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead, FL; Carlos Balerdi, Extension Agent, Miami-Dade County South Extension Office, Homestead, FL; Steven A. Sargent, Professor, Horticultural Sciences Department.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.