Lychees (LEE-cheez), in season from May to July, are great for “sports eating.” That means you have to do a bit of gymnastics to get into them, but then they’re good for you. They’re great as a great snack food, and fun to eat.
Residents here at BIB will be pleased to hear that Roberto, across the road, has lychees available for sale. YUM!
Lychees have a tough, dry, bumpy skin, but it’s thin and you can cut it with a knife or bite into it with your teeth and peel it off, exposing the pearly white globe inside.
The fruit has a firm jelly-like texture, is tartly sweet and delicious, and comes neatly off the large, super-shiny brown seed inside.
According to sources on the internet, it’s good for you, too. Lots of Vitamins C and B2, fiber, fat, protein and carbohydrates. About ten lychees will provide your daily requirements of Vitamins C and B2, copper and potassium for the day. Full of antioxidants, they are said to provide anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, liver-protective and immune-boosting benefits.
However, before snacking, make sure the skin has some red on it, indicating it is fully ripe. Don’t gorge on green, unripe ones on an empty stomach. The results have been known to be fatal to undernourished children in India. Just sayin’. They probably don’t taste all that good green, anyway.