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A description of the lychee fruit and its beneficial properties for health
The lychee or litchi fruit is native to Asian countries like China and India, but currently, cultivation occurs in many countries around the world. Known for its sweet fragrance, pitted skin and fleshy translucent pulp, this fruit is a popular ingredient in most Asian cuisines. In the following article, you will find a brief description of the lychee tree and its fruit. Its appearances in cuisine as well as its most important nutritional advantages are explained.
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The lychee fruit (also referred to as litchi) belongs to the soapberry family and was originally found only in Southeast Asia and southern China, where documents dating back to 2000 BC make mention of this sweet pulpy fruit. In the 1st century, there was a great demand for this fruit by the Chinese Imperial Court. By 1782, this fragrant fruit was introduced to the rest of the world and it is now grown all over the world – India, China, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, the United States, Brazil, South Africa and Japan. In India, the states of Bihar and Muzaffarpur contribute 75% of all lychees found in the Indian market.
The Lychee tree
The lychee tree can attain heights of up to 28 metres, although more commonly trees remain below the 10 metre mark. The bark of the tree is black and the branches reddish. When it comes time to flower, the tree can be flooded with hundreds of delicate fragrant white or yellow blossoms. Depending on the climate of the region the tree is found in, lychees will start to ripen within 3-4 months. The fruit must be allowed to ripen while still on the tree, because harvesting will stall the ripening process. Whether round, oval or heart-shaped, this tasty fruit is protected by a pink very roughly marked peel, which is easy to remove. The brown seed in the fruit is very large (compared to the size of the fruit) and takes up most of the space. Different cultivars of the fruit have been grown with very small, shriveled up seeds. Owing to the greater amount of flesh in these types of fruit, they are more expensive than the regular ones.
On many occasions, the same type of lychee plant can produce different results based on the temperature and other influential factors of the place they are cultivated. Favourable conditions for the success of the tree's growth include warm climates with a lot of rainfall, summer heat and humidity. It can grow in colder climates, provided the temperature does not drop below -4 degrees Celsius.
The Lychee fruit in cuisine
Lychees are a popular dessert ingredient in a majority of Asian countries, particularly India and China. When refrigerated, their peel starts to dry and turn dark brown in colour. However this does not affect how the fruit tastes. Canning, on the other hand reduces its flavour and so fresh consumption remains the best option. The fresh fruit will keep for around five days at room temperature and for several weeks in the fridge. The fruit is also dried in some regions along with the skin, resulting in darker coloured and harder lychee nuts. These however are not really nuts, just a name given to them. Lychees have been used most commonly in exotic fruit juices, ice creams and in dishes served with other fruit like a fruit salad or just with cream. The aroma and big flavour of this little fruit is unmistakable.
Nutritional benefits of the Lychee fruit
Apart from the wonderful taste and fragrance of this pulpy fruit, there are a number of ways in which lychees help us. They are as follows:-
1. Rich in Vitamin C – Lychees are rich in Vitamin C to such an extent that just nine of these little fruits would meet the daily requirements for adults. Vitamin C is one of the important assistants in helping the body build up its immunity against a host of diseases and viruses. It also develops stronger bones.
2. Low in Cholesterol – Lychees have a very low concentration of saturated fats and therefore contain no calories or cholesterol. Therefore, they are not only tasty but also healthy to eat.
3. Adequate Sugar content – Lychees are naturally rich in sucrose and glucose, making them a great source for energy.
4. Rich in fibre – Lychees also contain a lot of fibre making them a good food for people who are dieting or want to lose weight.
5. Antioxidant properties – Lychees are rich in the polyphenol 'oligonol', which acts as an antioxidant against viruses like influenza. It also helps with blood flow.
6. Rich in B-complex Vitamins – Lychees contain a high amount of B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, niacin and folates, which help the body break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
7. Rich in Potassium – One cup of lychees contains 6 % of the daily requirement of potassium. Potassium helps to regulate the body's blood pressure, thereby keeping hypertension at bay. It also controls the heart rate and protects the person against heart diseases and strokes. Potassium also maintains the balance of fluids in body tissue.
8. Excellent source of other Minerals – Copper which helps produce red blood cells, is also found in abundance in lychees (14% of the daily requirement). The other minerals found in this fruit include iron, zinc, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. The latter three minerals help in the formation and strengthening of bones in growing children as well as adults (to prevent osteoporosis).
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