VANILLAGOODS / FRESH MARKET BUYING GUIDE

Lychee: Buying, Storage & Baking Guide

Learn how to choose, store, and bake with lychee, with quality checks and U.S. season guidance.

Tropical fruit
Lychee: Lychees with one peeled showing white flesh

Look for

Characteristic developed color for variety, intact surface

Feel & texture

Variety-dependent firmness: consult fruit-specific note

Aroma

Characteristic fruity aroma may indicate maturity for some species

What to avoid

Fermented odor, leaking, active mold or major damage

How to store

Follow fruit-specific ripening rules, then chill when appropriate

Typical U.S. season

Varies by region and availability

Growing regions and availability

High-level growing suitability depends on variety, climate and local conditions.

Seasons and growing conditions vary by location and variety. Imported or stored ingredients may be available outside typical growing windows.

Visual buying guide

Lychee, where it grows: Clusters of red lychees on a tree

Where it grows

Lychee, pick this one: Bright red, bumpy lychees

Pick this one

Characteristic developed color for variety, intact surface

Lychee, skip this one: Brown, dry, cracked lychees

Skip this one

Fermented odor, leaking, active mold or major damage

What can you bake with Lychee?

Fruit tarts, sorbets, puddings and sauces

Explore lychee recipes →

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