Summer may mean strawberries and sweet peas, but it also means Lychees. You can get three pounds in Chinatown for $10 right now. Three pounds may sound like a lot, but we tear through the sweet fruits.
One of my colleagues used to have a lychee hook up: the guy manning the fruit stand outside of the hospital would set aside up to ten pounds of his best fruit for him, hidden from view–and, before long, for me too.
I’ll never forget: We were operating late in my intern year and he had to ask a nurse to hold the phone up to his ear so he could give his wife directions for the pick-up, before having me take over the call.
And I’m not sure he has forgiven me over the time I once bought the whole stash! They’re that good. Fortunately, we’ve moved past that episode; but on the night of his graduation dinner, I brought him a few pounds and we bonded as we ravished the pile of fruit.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I LOVE lychees. Everything about them — the juiciness, the gorgeous peels, the gorgeously satisfying tactile experience of peeling them, that elegant pit! i'm hungry now…
we get lychees from madagascar here in france. a real summer treat
thanks for your comment.
I have only had the candy lychees but you make the real thing sound so delicious. Maybe I should consider venturing…
I'm glad all is well with you and your friend haha.
I remeber the first time a friend introduced me to fresh lychees – I remeber thinking that they were too sweet to be fruit:) So good!
I've never tried them before, I wonder what they are like?
Like candy! The best way to eat them is to peel off half, using the stem to get started, and then squeeze from the bottom to pop the fruit in your mouth. The peel is bitter, so it's best not to let it touch your lips. They're grown in many places but are native to China, so if you have a Chinatown, you might check there. Hope you find some!
Oooo, I've never had a lychee. I wonder if I could even find one in Utah. My curiosity has peaked!
I've never had lychees. (Actually never even heard of them!) Can't wait to try. *LOVE the blog by the way. Can I travel with you guys! LOL
I want some now! I've only ever had a Lychee muddled in a drink, now I want to try it alone!
I was just introduced to lychees not too long ago and I now totally regret how suspicious I was of them in the past. They rock!
I've never even heard of these! They look so interesting and tasty. I am going to go on a hunt for them.
i have never tried them but the pictures make them look quite delicious
yummy!
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Ah, those fresh lychees look amazing! I've only had canned that I used in a sweet and sour meatball recipe I have because sadly I don't think I can get them here.
i would have no idea what to do with them- but they look great.
deeee-lish!
I have never had a lychee! honest. But I must. Soon.