Lychee/Litchi

The lovely little lychee (or litchi as it is sometimes known) has a distinguished history, as the favoured fruit of Chinese emperors and their courts. Chinese poets wrote verses about them; and why not? The lychee is a round or egg shaped stone fruit, its flesh is a very good source of vitamin C, and it's also high in calcium, copper, potassium and phosphorous. The inedible, thin skin is usually yellow, or a pinky red, and easily peeled off. It is rough, almost wart-like, sometimes referred to as the 'shell'. Inside is smooth, pearly white, sweet flesh, and at the centre a shiny stone that should be discarded.
Grown in sub tropical or tropical areas, especially south east Asia, the fruit is picked ripe. It doesn't ripen any further once picked, and can be stored for a few days at room temperature or in the fridge for a week.