Lychee / Litchi

Litchi chinensis, commonly known as Chinese Cherry, Leechee, Lichee, Litchi, Lychee, Mountain Lychee, and Water Lychee, is a subtropical, medium-sized evergreen tree with worldwide consumption and, therefore, is commercially valuable.

Litchi bears small, fleshy fruits. The fruit's exterior is reddish-pink, almost textured, and inedible, covering a sweet flesh eaten in various dessert dishes.

A Litchi tree grows to 10 to 15 meters in its natural habitat and produces delicate little yellow flowers on twigs.

The white gelatinous flesh of the Litchi tastes sweet, and in the middle is a reddish-brown seed. Litchi fruit can be eaten on its own, used in tropical fruit salads, or blended into cocktails, juices, smoothies, and desserts. The fruit is usually consumed fresh but can also be canned or dried.

The primary nutrients in fresh Litchi include:

Protein, carbs, sugar, fiber, fat, vitamin C, copper, and potassium.

Litchi trees are evergreen, so they are a good source for absorbing CO2 and producing oxygen. On average, one litchi tree yields 40–100 kg of fruit per year. The lifespan of a litchi tree is 20 to 70 years, and it will bear fruit at least 5 years after being planted. The fruit, leaves, seed, peel, and root of litchi have health benefits. Litchi fruit is consumed as raisins, pickles, sauce, or wine. The fruit's peel can be used as tea, and the fruit's seed can be turned into powder. Even the root of the tree can be consumed as a decoction. This plant can be used to generate income due to its wide applications. Litchi also has vast potential in the global market.

Annual Yield

The ten-year-old tree of Litchi yields up to 200 kg per year.  

• In China, the root, bark, and flower decoctions of Litchi are used as gargles to alleviate throat ailments. Seeds are used as an analgesic in neuralgic disorders such as orchitis, hernia, lumbago, and ulcers. They are also used for intestinal troubles. Ingesting a moderate amount of Litchi or its decoction is said to relieve coughing and be beneficial in treating gastralgia, tumors, and enlargements of the glands.¹

• The ingredients of lychees show us they can benefit cancer treatment, diabetes, and heart disease.² Its effects on treating liver cancer are under investigation.³

• The high amount of profilin in this plant can cause severe anaphylactic reactions in patients sensitized against profilin allergens.⁴