Unexpected Charms of the Lychee

By Jaanu

Ah, the humble lychee. This popular tropical fruit has an incredibly distinctive, flowery flavor, and has gone from a fruit on the margins to a ubiquitous additive in all manner of desserts and café drinks. It is cultivated primarily across Southeast Asia, growing on midsize trees and requiring full sun to grow. Today, of course, both fresh and canned varieties can be found all across the world, during any season. Fortunately, for lychee lovers, the fruit isn’t just tasty but claims quite a few health benefits.

• Lychees are rich in vitamin C. 10 lychees a day keeps scurvy away, as a single fruit contains about 9% of the daily recommended intake for vitamin C.
• They’re rich in copper and potassium.
• Lychees also contain higher levels of polyphenols, which are antioxidants important for reducing inflammation and eliminating free radicals.
• They are likely conducive to heart health, containing rutin, a compound protective against diabetes and various heart disease.

Canned lychees sometimes come preserved in a sugar-based syrup, which ramps up the sweetness of the fruit and adds a significant number of calories. They are already high in carbs, and added sweetness isn’t often recommended. Fresh lychees can be a light and summery dessert! 🍬