How do they eat lychees? Recipes for delicious desserts. Lychee fruit - beneficial properties, how to eat lychee

Lychee is a small fruit covered with a red skin with tubercles. It tastes sweet and sour and very pleasant. Just a few years ago this fruit could not be seen in our stores. Now, although it is rare and expensive, you can still buy these unusual fruits and enjoy their taste. What kind of fruit is this, where and how it grows and what beneficial properties it has, all this is in the article.

How does lychee grow?

Lychee is one of the popular fruits of Southeast Asia. But its popularity is not limited only to this region. It is gaining more and more fans around the world for its taste and aroma.

Lychee fruit is the fruit of an evergreen tree. It can reach 20-30 meters in height. But, as a rule, it is only 10-15 meters. China is considered the birthplace of this fruit, where, according to sources, its fruits were eaten as early as the 2nd century BC.

Over time, lychee spread first to neighboring countries and then to many regions of the globe with a tropical climate. This fruit was brought to Europe in the 17th century. It was first described by the Spanish writer Gonzalez de Mendoza, who was interested in the history of China.

The lychee tree belongs to the Sapindaceae family. The crown of the tree is spreading. The pinnate leaves have from 4 to 8 elongated ovate or lanceolate leaflets.

The flowers of the plant cannot be called such in the usual sense. They have no petals and are collected in lush umbrella-shaped panicles, the length of which can be up to 70 centimeters. Of all the inflorescences, only 3 to 15 fruits can be formed. The rest fall off after flowering.

The fruits themselves are round or oval in shape and covered with a thick skin with numerous tubercles. Inside, under it, there is a juicy jelly-like white pulp with a dark oval-shaped bone inside.

The diameter of the fruit is about 2.5-4 centimeters. The peel is bright red. The weight of one ripe fruit is about 20 grams.

Lychee is also called Chinese plum, laysi, lisi, liji. The Chinese call it "dragon's eye".

Lychee fruit taste

Only the white flesh of the lychee is edible. Neither the peel nor the pit is used for food. They are inedible. The pulp itself is juicy, aromatic, and has a jelly-like consistency. The peel peels off easily.

Everyone describes the taste of lychee differently. To some it resembles something between strawberries and grapes, and to others it resembles pineapple. Lychee perfectly refreshes and quenches thirst.

Lychee chemical composition and calorie content

Lychee contains many useful substances that are beneficial to the human body. Found in it:

Vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, E, H (biotin), K (phylloquinone);

Minerals: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, chlorine, sodium, fluorine, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, iodine;

Carbohydrates;

Alimentary fiber;

Saccharides;

Monosaccharides;

The amount of sugar depends on the area where the tree grows and can fluctuate.

100 grams of fruit pulp contains almost 80 grams of water, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fat, 0.9 grams of proteins. The calorie content of 100 grams of lychee is 60-70 calories.

Lychee fruit beneficial properties

Thanks to the substances contained in lychee, this fruit has many beneficial properties. Vitamins, minerals, plenty of water, dietary fiber and more all have a positive effect on the human body.

Vitamin C and potassium have a healing effect on the cardiovascular system. This fruit can lower cholesterol levels. In China, this fruit is consumed to prevent atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.

Lychee fruit has a tonic effect on the human body. In the east, it is considered an excellent natural aphrodisiac. It is not surprising that in India lychees are called the fruit of love.

Due to its high water content, it perfectly quenches thirst, normalizes the functioning of the intestinal tract, eliminates and prevents constipation. And its low calorie content makes it an excellent product for losing weight and getting rid of extra pounds.

The Chinese believe that lychee, when combined with lemongrass and other herbs, is very effective against cancer.

But in addition to the fruit, its peel is used in folk medicine. Regular consumption of peel decoction improves body tone and prevents fluid accumulation in tissues.

Lychee is useful when eaten fresh. But when canned or dried, it also has many beneficial properties and does not lose its taste.

Benefits of lychee for the body

The whole benefit of this small fruit called lychee lies, again, in its chemical composition. It looks like there might be some water there. But we can say with confidence about this fruit: “The spool is small, but expensive.” It’s a pity that its fruiting season is short and it doesn’t last long.

The main benefits of the “dragon eye” include:

Strengthening immunity;

Beneficial effects on the heart and blood vessels;

Prevention of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke or heart attack;

Prevention of atherosclerosis;

Removing bad low-density cholesterol;

Prevention of constipation;

Improving the functioning of the gastrointestinal system;

Prevention of anemia, as it contains iron;

Cleansing the body of harmful substances and toxins (rich in fiber and pectin);

Antioxidants protect the body from the oxidative process of free radicals;

Prevention of premature aging;

Increasing tone and energy balance due to the correct carbohydrates and vitamin composition;

Simple sugars satisfy hunger for a long time;

It has a relatively low glycemic index and can be consumed by patients with diabetes.

Lychee fruit harm and contraindications

The only contraindication to consuming this exotic fruit can only be individual intolerance. It may manifest itself as an allergic reaction.

Adverse reactions may occur from overusing this fruit. But this applies more to those people who go to tropical countries on vacation during the lychee harvest season. For the rest, you just need to take note. Still, these fruits are rare in our country, and they are expensive.

Such side effects can manifest themselves in the form of diarrhea and flatulence. Therefore, eat these fruits in reasonable quantities. A few pieces a day will be enough. Children are allowed to eat no more than 100 grams of fresh lychee fruit.

How to select and store lychees

During the harvest season, which happens mainly in winter, lychees can be bought at any large chain store. What to look for when purchasing?

Firstly, the color of the peel. It should be deep red and undamaged. A brown peel can indicate that the fruit has already gone bad. Light red or yellow in color - the fruit was picked not quite ripe.

Of course, the fruits should not have any traces of mold or rot.

If you have the opportunity to smell the fruit, do so. Lychees have a pleasant fruity aroma. When the fruits are overripe, the smell is sweet.

Lychees do not last long. This is the reason for their low prevalence. However, transportation takes some time.

At room temperature, their shelf life is 1-2 days. They can keep in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. Therefore, having bought fruits, it is better to eat them immediately.

If you need to preserve fruits for a longer period, it is better to freeze them. In this case, they can be stored for several months. They may or may not be peeled before freezing. Peeled frozen fruits resemble sorbet ice cream in taste and appearance.

How to peel lychee

There shouldn't be any difficulties here. The peel is easily removed. You can cut it with a knife or lightly press on the fruit to peel it. Do not swallow the bone!

What to cook with lychee

Mostly fresh fruits are used in cooking. They are used to make fruit salads, make jams, preserves, marmalade, and squeeze juice. Used for desserts and as a filling in baked goods.

Lychees are also dried. When dried, it looks like large raisins. It is often used to decorate cocktails, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

These fruits serve as a marinade for meat or fish, and sauces are made from them.

Lychee ice cream

For 500 grams of peeled lychee fruits take:

1 cup cream (at least 20% fat)

125 grams sugar

1 packet vanilla sugar

Peel the lychees and remove the pit. Puree in a blender. Add cream, sugar and vanilla. Beat everything well and put it in the refrigerator. After a couple of hours, remove the container with the fruit mixture and beat again. This is necessary in order to break frozen pieces of ice. Place back in the freezer.

Do this several times until the ice cream is completely frozen.

Lychee jelly

You can take fruits according to your taste or based on availability. Since lychee is an exotic fruit, its companion in this jelly recipe will be the same.

Take mango and lychee. Wash, peel and cut into small pieces.

Dissolve 1 tablespoon of gelatin in a glass of apple juice, adding sugar to taste.

Arrange the chopped fruits in small vases and wide glasses. Pour over the prepared jelly. Place in the refrigerator until it hardens.

Interesting facts about lychee

For us, this fruit is considered exotic. But in countries where they are native and familiar, they have learned to use it to solve many of their problems and goals. Very briefly interesting facts on the use and use of lychee.

Use in folk medicine

• A decoction of the root, flowers and bark is used as a gargle for a sore, sore throat.
• The stone is used as a sedative for orchitis and neuralgic disorders.
• Lychee provides relief from cough.
• It helps in the treatment of tumors, gastralgia and enlarged glands.
• Fruit peel tea helps treat smallpox rashes and diarrhea.
• In India, the crushed seeds are used for certain intestinal and stomach problems.
• In China, lychee is used for neuralgic pain.
• Flowers are used for bleeding, sore throats and to prevent burns from ultraviolet rays.

In nutrition

• They are added to fruit salads.
• Topped with whipped cream and pistachio ice cream for dessert.
• The halved fruit is placed on top of the ham during the last hour of cooking in the oven or grill. Also used in cooking steak.
• Pureeed lychee pulp is added to the ice cream mixture.
• Lychee juice is used to make ice cream and jelly.
• In Thailand, India and China, lychees are preserved in sugar syrup.
• It is included in sour and sweet dishes in Chinese cuisine.
• Lychee is also used as a mixed salad with avocado pieces.
• Lychee also mixes well with juices such as banana, strawberry, mango and papaya juice, and coconut water.

Other facts

• Flowers can be green, white or yellow.
• The lychee flower blooms in the northern hemisphere from November to February and in the southern hemisphere from April to August.
• Fragrant flowers attract bees, which are the main pollinators of plants.
• After pollination, lychee matures in 100-120 days.
• Lychee has a floral aroma and a sweet taste that resembles a mixture of pear and grape.
• Lychee is called Chinese strawberry because it originated in China and looks like a strawberry.
• In China, lychee is considered a symbol of romance and love.
• China and India are the largest producers of lychee in the world.
• Dried lychee has a smoky aroma.

Learn more about the beneficial properties of the exotic lychee fruit and how it is beneficial for the human body in the video.

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Lychee (otherwise known as “fox”, “liji”, “Chinese plum”, “laysi”, “dragon eye”) is a tasty and healthy fruit that can be found not only in the countries of Southeast Asia, but also in domestic supermarkets. Recently, these fruits have been exported to us mainly from Vietnam and Thailand. However, many still do not know what lychee fruit tastes like and how to eat it. The benefits and harms of “Chinese plum” are of interest to many consumers. Let's try to figure this out.

What does lychee look like?

This fruit is small in size (from 2.5 to 3.5 cm in diameter) and weighs about 15, maximum 20 g. It has an oval or ovoid shape. The reddish or pinkish peel of lychee is dense, but brittle, and consists of numerous tubercles. The jelly-like juicy pulp of the fruit has a white or cream tint. It has an excellent, refreshing, sweet and sour taste and pleasant aroma. Inside the fruit there is an inedible seed, oblong in shape, dark brown in color. This is what lychee fruit looks like, the photo clearly demonstrates it. This interesting fruit grows in clusters on evergreen trees of the Sapindaceae family, reaching a height of 30 m. They have a thick, spreading crown. Their leaves are dense and leathery, usually a rich dark green hue. Lychee trees bloom with numerous yellowish flowers, collected in hanging inflorescences similar to “umbrellas”.

Where did this tropical fruit come from?

The birthplace of lychee is considered to be China, where this fruit has been grown for more than 1000 years. Since ancient times, the Chinese called this fruit the “eye of the dragon”, due to the bright combination of red peel, white pulp and brown seed. In Europe, they learned about this tasty fruit only in the 17th century. Where does lychee grow now? Nowadays, trees of the Sapindaceae family actively bear fruit in vast areas of Southeast Asia, Australia, the countries of South America and Africa (South Africa), as well as in the southern United States. This fruit is exported to Russia mainly from the northern regions of Vietnam and Thailand. Harvest in the subtropics in May-June, cutting off the bunches along with the stem part of the branch. Fruits collected individually spoil extremely quickly and begin to ferment.

Lychee - a storehouse of vitamins and minerals

This tropical fruit has a variety of beneficial properties, as it contains a lot of vitamins. "Dragon's eye" is rich in valuable micro- and macroelements. Lychee contains B vitamins, including thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. Dragon eye also contains vitamins K, E, H and folic acid. It contains especially a lot of vitamin C. In addition, lychee is rich in healthy dietary fiber and plenty of clean water. In addition, Chinese plums are rich in minerals, including copper, fluorine, zinc, manganese, and iodine. It contains phosphorus, sodium, calcium, iron, sulfur and potassium. The sugar content in lychee varies between 5-15% depending on where the fruit grows.

Lychee fruit. Benefits and harms

Such a high content of valuable vitamins, micro- and macroelements, as well as fiber and pure water makes the “Chinese plum” an extremely healthy product. It saturates a person with necessary substances, gives strength and vigor. Lychee has an excellent tonic effect on the body as a whole and mobilizes the immune system. In China, it has been known since ancient times that “dragon eye” is a powerful natural aphrodisiac. It is able to rejuvenate the body, activate desire and maintain “love” functions at the proper level. Lychee fruit has been successfully used for the prevention and treatment of many serious diseases. Its benefits and harms are, in fact, disproportionate. Counts,
"Chinese plum" cannot cause serious harm to human health. But its benefits are enormous. However, it is advisable to exercise caution when consuming the fruit. You should not eat too much lychee at once. Otherwise, an allergic reaction may occur. It manifests itself as acne on the skin and damage to the oral mucosa. First, you should try one or two fruits and monitor the body’s reaction. If everything is in order, you can safely eat up to 250 g of “Chinese plum” per day (for adults). Children over 2 years old need to consume about 100 g of fruit. It is not advisable to include lychees in the diet of one-year-old babies. “Chinese plum” is contraindicated for those who have been found to have an individual intolerance to it.

How is lychee fruit used in folk medicine? how is it useful?

This tropical fruit is widely used in folk oriental medicine. It can and should be used to prevent vitamin deficiency and anemia. Lychee is often used to prevent cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis, because it contains a significant amount of potassium.
The fruit also contains nicotinic acid, which has a positive effect on lipid metabolism in the body. Lychee fruit helps clear cholesterol from the blood and dilates blood vessels. What else is it useful for? It is used to normalize blood sugar levels, so it is indicated for people with diabetes or hypoglycemia. In addition, useful decoctions and infusions are made from the “Chinese plum”, which normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, have a mild laxative effect, and have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the liver and kidneys. People with lung diseases, including those suffering from bronchitis, asthma or tuberculosis, are prescribed to take preparations with lychee. These drugs make breathing easier and normalize the function of the respiratory system. Regular consumption of lychee is beneficial for those who have peptic ulcers, gastritis and pancreatic diseases. In oriental medicine, “Chinese plum” in combination with lemongrass is even used to treat cancer, including breast cancer. Is lychee peel healthy? It is no less valuable than the pulp of the fruit. Lychee peel is used to prepare decoctions and infusions that have a pronounced diuretic effect. They help remove excess fluid from body tissues, and also increase overall tone and improve well-being.

"Chinese plum" in dietary nutrition

Nutritionists recommend eating lychee in order to saturate the body with water and also reduce the feeling of hunger. “Chinese plum” contains pectin. It allows you to quickly saturate the body, giving nutrition to the beneficial intestinal microflora. Therefore, it is recommended to eat several lychee fruits before each meal, which will reduce the standard portion of food and avoid overeating. The calorie content of lychee is only 76 kcal/100 g, so people who carefully monitor their weight can eat it without fear.

How to choose good, fresh fruit in the store?

If you want to purchase high-quality, tasty fruits, you must follow the following simple rules. Firstly, when choosing a lychee, you need to pay attention to the color of its peel. It should be pink or red. Brown color indicates that the fruit was picked from the tree a long time ago and has already deteriorated. The taste of dark-colored lychee will be unpleasant, and the smell will be sharper and stronger. The light yellow color of the fruit, on the contrary, indicates its immaturity. This fruit is also not worth purchasing. Secondly, when choosing a “Chinese plum” you need to pay attention to the presence of damage. A good fruit will not have any suspicious spots, dents, or cracks. Thirdly, the lychee should be elastic, as if it would soon “burst”. You should not take a fruit that is too soft or, conversely, hard. Fourthly, there should be no white spots or mold in the place where the petiole was located. And finally, the scent of lychee should be pleasant, fresh, slightly reminiscent of a rose. Too heavy and sweet indicates overripeness and staleness of the fruit.

"Dragon's Eye" in cooking

How to eat lychee? You just need to wash the fruit under running water, peel it, and then remove the inedible pit. The juicy pulp of the fruit can be eaten fresh. Reminiscent of a mixture of strawberries, white grapes, currants and dried apricots, lychee fruit. Its taste is pleasant, sweet and sour, fresh. In addition to eating fresh, lychees can be canned, dried, frozen and cooked. It is used to make drinks and desserts, including delicious ice cream, various sauces, mousses, and jellies. Lychee is used to make excellent golden wine, with a pleasant fruity aromatic and soft sweet and sour aftertaste.
"Dragon's eye" is also used in preparing dishes from game, meat and sea fish. In Chinese restaurants, you can taste deep-fried shrimp in sweet and sour sauce with lychee (Lizhi Xia Qiu). If you manage to buy fresh "Chinese plum", be sure to try making sweet and sour chicken with almonds and lychee sauce at home. In addition, the fruit is used in the preparation of various baked goods, it is added to the filling of pies and pies, and cookies and cakes are made from it.

How to properly store lychee?

The issue of storing the “dragon eye” deserves special attention. In general, it is advisable to eat this fruit as soon as possible - on the first day after purchase. At room temperature, lychee can be safely kept for 2-3 days. In the refrigerator, at 7°C, lychee can be kept for one or two weeks, provided that the shell is intact and there is no damage. In general, this fruit spoils quite quickly, its peel darkens and the amount of vitamins in its composition decreases. If you want to preserve lychees for a long time, we advise you to peel the fruits and freeze them. You can also dry the fruit or preserve it. In China, pickled lychees are stored inside bamboo stalks. In India and Vietnam, the whole fruit is dried, after which the peel becomes hard, and such fruits are called “nuts.” In this article we looked at an interesting Chinese fruit - lychee, the benefits and harms of which concern many consumers. As you can see, the “Chinese plum” has practically no contraindications and therefore can be safely eaten. Moreover, it is rich in vitamins, minerals and has a lot of undeniable advantages! Be sure to try this delicious exotic product.

Lychee fruit - benefits and harm

The Chinese lychee fruit is mostly unknown to us. Either those who went on vacation to China or those who like to experiment with food and constantly try something new had a chance to try this curiosity. The appearance of this fruit is so unusual that it is even difficult to immediately realize that it is edible. At first glance, it most closely resembles a lumpy rubber ball of a pinkish or reddish color, about three to four centimeters in diameter. And it’s hard to imagine that under this dense shell there is hidden the most delicate creamy pulp with the smell of roses and a completely unique subtle sweet and sour taste. Due to its exotic nature, many people have a vague idea about the benefits and harms of lychee fruit. Meanwhile, it makes sense to take a closer look at this fruit.

Properties of lychee and its composition

The properties, that is, the benefits and harms of the lychee fruit, are directly related to its composition. Most of all it contains water and dietary fiber. The fruit also contains a large amount of carbohydrate compounds. But the main thing is that lychee pulp contains a wide variety of active substances. For example, here you can find B vitamins, vitamins C, E, PP, rare vitamin K, choline, iron, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, selenium, as well as the valuable substance zeaxanthin, which is responsible for visual acuity, along with vitamin A. Thanks to this Rich in composition, lychee has a lot of beneficial properties. But they will manifest themselves fully only if the person ate the fruit according to all the rules.

How to eat lychee?

The peel of this fruit is inedible, so it is washed and removed with a knife. After that, the seed is removed from the fruit - it is quite large and easily separated from the pulp. At the table, it is customary to eat the Chinese lychee fruit with a dessert spoon, since the consistency of its most delicious part is jelly-like and it will be difficult to take it with your hands without the risk of getting dirty. The fruit can be eaten fresh, canned, or dried. Very often they are used to prepare something like a pulp puree with juice. And in China itself, they also prefer to dry lychees entirely directly in the peel, and then use them in the form of dried fruits. Lychee goes well with protein foods; it is used to make gravies, baking fillings, ice cream, drinks, etc.

What are the benefits of lychee?

Due to the large amount of carbohydrates, the fruit is difficult to classify as a dietary product. But its calorie content is not so high - only 66-70 kcal per hundred grams, so even those who are slightly overweight can easily include it in their diet, but it should be eaten in reasonable quantities.

In the East, lychee is considered a powerful aphrodisiac, so there they even gave the fruit the appropriate nickname “fruit of love.” It must be served at the wedding table so that the marriage is successful. In the homeland of the fruit, China, it is actively used in traditional medicine recipes. For example, for the treatment of heart diseases, getting rid of high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, etc.

Western nutritionists also recognize the beneficial properties of lychee. Studies have shown that, like other plant foods, this fruit has a beneficial effect on intestinal function, saturates the body with moisture, optimizes metabolic processes, and as a result helps to lose weight.

But besides the benefits, lychee also has harm. Firstly, like any exotic, it can cause allergies. Secondly, due to the high carbohydrate content, it can cause heaviness and pain in the intestines, increased gas formation and exacerbation of gastritis and ulcers. Therefore, it should be eaten in reasonable quantities and no more than two or three times a week.

Lychee fruit - beneficial properties

The lychee fruit, despite the wide abundance of modern stores, is still considered a rather exotic guest on our shelves. This tropical fruit is widespread throughout Asia, in the countries of North Africa; in the last few decades it has begun to be cultivated in Europe, in particular in the southern regions of France. The birthplace of this fruit is China, which is why lychee is often called Chinese plum.

Lychee is valued for its excellent taste and is widely used in cooking for preparing a wide variety of dishes - salads, sauces, confectionery. The pulp of the fruit is used to make wine, juice, and can also be preserved.

The pulp of the fruit, hidden by a prickly skin, is a white or creamy jelly. It has a unique refreshing sweet and sour taste and great aroma. Lychee fruit, in addition to its excellent taste, has a number of beneficial properties that are due to its biochemical composition.

Lychee contains pure water, which is of particular value in tropical latitudes. In addition, this fruit contains a whole storehouse of vitamins and minerals that can significantly replenish the body’s balance, strengthen the immune system and restore strength.

1. Vitamins in lychee are represented by a high content of ascorbic acid - more than 70 mg per 100 g of pulp, group B (B1, B2, B6, B9), niacin (PP), phylloquinone (K), choline and vitamin E.
2. The mineral composition includes a whole complex of micro- and macroelements - potassium 170 mg, phosphorus 30 mg, magnesium 10 mg, calcium 5 mg, copper 148 mcg, in smaller doses contains selenium, manganese, iron, fluorine, zinc, sodium, iodine.

Lychee dietary fiber helps cleanse the intestines and improve peristalsis. Nutritionists recommend consuming this fruit for people who have digestive problems, suffer respiratory diseases, loss of strength and endocrine disorders. For anyone who wants to lose weight, this fruit is a very valuable dietary product, as it helps speed up metabolism, removes toxins and regulates hormonal balance.

With a calorie content of only 66 kcal, lychee satisfies our need for many vitamins and minerals, cleanses and stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, having a complex effect on all body systems. This fruit has practically no contraindications; it should not be abused if you are prone to food allergies and try it with caution for the first time.

How do they eat lychees? What are the benefits of lychees: beneficial properties and contraindications. Lychee - what is it and how is it grown?

A strange fruit called “lychee”, more like a toy, is little known here in Russia. Most people don't even know about its existence. The history of the origin of this fruit goes back to ancient times. It is known that the first mentions of the plant appeared before our era.

During its existence, it was called as many times as possible: “dragon eye”, “paradise grapes”, “fruit of love”, “Chinese cherry”. In Russia, the berry is not in such demand, but in vain. Lychee fruit - what is it and what is it eaten with? Today's article will be devoted to this fruit and very useful plant.

Where are you from?

Let's say right away that this is a very tall tropical tree, reaching 30 meters in height. Its fruits are ovoid in shape with a pimply skin of a bright red hue with a diameter of no more than 3.5 cm. The pulp of the berry is very soft, with a jelly-like consistency of cream or white color, hidden under it is a large brown seed. The taste is pleasant, reminiscent of cherries - sweet and sour and refreshing.

Lychee berries are cultivated mainly on subtropical continents: South America, China, Southeast Asia, Japan and Africa. Exported worldwide. The exotic fruit is sold quite profitably, since it is valued not only for its high taste, but also for its beneficial properties. Thanks to long-term storage, there are no problems with transportation.

How to grow?

If you really want, you can grow this beautiful plant at home. Just remember that the tree is very demanding of humidity, air temperature and lighting. In order for the plant to begin to bear fruit, you must strictly adhere to all the rules. For cultivation, you can use lychee seeds, which should not be stored for more than two days.

At first, young seedlings grow very quickly, but after the seedlings reach 20 cm, a slowdown in growth is observed - for about several years. Water the plant as the soil dries, and regular foliar feeding is also required. During the period of intense flowering, it is necessary to carefully monitor the air temperature - it should not fall below +15 °C. It is advisable to install the pot on the west side.

What are the benefits of lychees: properties and calorie content

It should be noted that the berry is a dietary product - only 70 kcal per 100 g. Therefore, it can be safely consumed by anyone who adheres to the principles of proper and low-calorie nutrition. The distinctive features of the overseas fruit are its rich biochemical composition and beneficial properties that have a healing effect on the body.

The berries contain a whole complex of vitamins B, E, C, H, K. In particular, they contain trace elements: potassium, sodium, fluorine, iodine, chlorine, iron, manganese, selenium, sulfur and others. All these substances are necessary for the proper functioning of our body and life. Lychee fruit contains many complex carbohydrates, water, dietary fiber, proteins and a minimal amount of fat. It also contains sugar from 6 to 14% - it all depends on the region of growth and variety.

The main advantage of the berry is its content of nicotinic acid. Due to its healing properties, it is widely used in cooking and folk medicine. Do you know how to eat lychees? It can be consumed both fresh and boiled. The pulp is often used as a filling for confectionery, but more on that later.

Medicinal use

Residents of the Celestial Empire treat lychees with deep respect and love. “Chinese plum”, in their opinion, is capable of working real miracles and getting rid of serious ailments - it has been tested by practice. When eaten daily, you can lower cholesterol levels, normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular system and restore memory.

It is recommended as an aphrodisiac, as the fruit perfectly stimulates libido and increases potency. In addition, the fruits have a mild laxative effect, so they are recommended for people suffering from chronic constipation. And thanks to the water content, the berries perfectly quench thirst and relieve intestinal disorders.

Nutritionists advise consuming “Chinese plum” during a diet, as it will fill the body with healthy vitamins and will not add weight. Traditional healers used decoctions (from fruit peels) to treat gastritis, anemia, diabetes, gastric ulcers, pancreas and pathological processes in the kidneys. Decoctions and infusions were also used as a diuretic and tonic.

In China, for example, they mixed the pulp of the fruit with lemongrass and medicinal herbs and used the resulting mixture for therapeutic purposes in the treatment of malignant tumors. In eastern countries it was used for liver, kidney, lung diseases, tuberculosis, asthma and bronchitis. The healing properties are preserved even in dried and canned states. Therefore, the question of how lychees are eaten should not arise. Many doctors recommend including it in the menu of young children.

Harm to the fruit

Excessive eating can cause allergies. The optimal daily dosage should not exceed one hundred grams. It is not recommended to eat fruits at the same time as other fruits, as this will cause gas formation and bloating. According to Chinese healers, lychee enhances “inner fire,” i.e., when overeating, a person may experience nausea, discomfort in the throat, fever and migraine. To restore vital energy, it is recommended to exclude berries from your diet for a couple of days and eat food only when it is cold. Now let's talk about how lychees are eaten.

Use in cooking

Exotic fruits go harmoniously with any types of meat and fish delicacies; they are also served with fresh salads and pates. The pulp is used as a filling for pancakes, pies and pies - this is how lychees are eaten in China. In addition to this, they are added to sweet desserts, ice cream and even alcoholic drinks (wine and champagne). We will describe several delicious and healthy recipes.

Delicious cupcake with added lychee

The dish contains three hundred grams of lychee berries. To prepare the creamy mass you will need: butter (one hundred grams), two eggs, one lemon and sugar to taste. You will also need vanillin.

Prepare the cream: squeeze the juice out of the lemon and grate the peel. In a separate bowl, beat eggs with granulated sugar and butter until fluffy. Mix with lemon zest and juice. Boil the mixture in a water bath, stirring continuously until the consistency becomes thick and homogeneous. Place peeled and chopped lychees into small molds. Fill them with creamy mixture. Place in the oven for a maximum of 15 minutes at 180°C.

Sherbet with lime and lychee

Ingredients: a kilogram of tropical berries, half a liter of pineapple juice, four limes, a plate of gelatin and a glass of sugar.

Soak the gelatin in cold water for about ten minutes. During this time, we peel the fruits, remove the seeds from them and cut them into small cubes. Heat the lime juice, add sugar with gelatin and pineapple juice. Pour into molds and place in the freezer for an hour. A refreshing, light and delicious dessert is ready.

We told you how to eat lychees. The fruit adds a pleasant sourness and some piquancy to any dish.

How to choose the right fruit?

The berry ripening season begins in July-August, at which time you can safely buy them. Although they are put up for sale not only in the summer - they are on store shelves all year round. In order not to inadvertently buy a damaged product, you need to learn how to choose it. Carefully examine the skin of the fruit, its color and structure. A fresh product must be free from blemishes, dents and damage, and bright red in color.

Dark peel indicates that the product is stale. The area near the petiole of a fresh berry does not have white spots or mold. Shake the fruit before buying: rotten fruit does not make sounds. Pay attention to the aroma: overripe lychee has a tart, sweetish smell, while fresh lychee has a rose aroma. During the off-season, we recommend purchasing canned berries.

How to save?

It is recommended to keep the fruits in the refrigerator, so they will last for a week. It’s best to freeze them after cleaning them first. To increase shelf life, you can dry the berries, and then cook compotes and add them to flour products.

Now, dear readers, you know what lychees are eaten with, what these berries are and where they grow. The usefulness of overseas fruits is a truism and an old axiom that does not require confirmation. They are able to normalize metabolic processes, improve overall health and cope with various pathologies.

Lychee fruit (dragon eye), its benefits and harm

Chemical composition and nutritional value

Behind the lumpy skin lies a delicate, creamy substance. It has a subtle sweet and sour taste and contains a whole bunch of useful substances:

• vitamins – K, E, C, group B (PP, B6, B5, B9, B1, B2);
• mineral components – selenium, manganese, iodine, copper, zinc, phosphorus, chromium, iron, potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium;
• beta-carotene and carotene (zeaxanthin);
• choline;
• mono- and disaccharides;
• fatty acid;
• alimentary fiber;
• fiber;
• pectins;
• ash.

Lychee on 82% consists of water. The essential oils contained in the peel give the fruit a subtle odor that is a bit reminiscent of a tea rose.

The nutritional value fruits per 100 g is:

• proteins ~ 0.84 g;
• fats ~ 0.45 g;

• carbohydrates ~ 15.21 g;
• energy value ~ 65 kcal.

In fruits, each of which weighs about 20 grams, contains a small amount of fat, complex carbohydrates and several tens of times more than all other fruits, zeaxanthin, together with vitamin A, which is responsible for visual acuity.

Beneficial properties of lychee

In India, lychees were nicknamed "fruit of love". The fruit is considered an aphrodisiac and is used to stimulate and restore the function of the reproductive system.

Eating fruits also has the following effects impact:

• normalization of the cardiovascular system;
• reducing the risk of developing heart disease;
• reducing blood cholesterol levels;
• restoration of vascular elasticity;
• prevention of atherosclerosis;
• decreased blood sugar;
• preventing the development of diseases of the stomach, intestines and digestive organs;
• prevention of anemia;
• stabilization of liver and kidney function;
• restoration of hormonal metabolism;
• preventing the development of cancerous tumors;
• normalization of water-salt balance and reduction of tissue swelling;
• reducing the risk of developing respiratory system diseases;
• anti-tuberculosis effect.

The fruit extract is also used in cosmetology. Pulp puree has a moisturizing and softening effect, oil extracts are included in masks and creams. Eating fruits in the summer reduces the negative effects of UV rays on the skin, preventing its premature aging.

Lychee in a healthy diet

Regular presence of fruits in the diet eliminates constipation and improves intestinal motility. Lychee - fruit low calorie, which characterizes its dietary benefits. The balanced composition and unique properties contribute to rapid saturation and long-term satisfaction of hunger. If you eat a couple of fruits before meals, you can halve your usual serving size and reduce the risk of overeating.

Fresh lychees contain more benefits, but the fruit is actively used in cooking for preparations:

• drinks (juices, low- and alcoholic wines);
• cocktails (fruit and milk);
• fruit salads;
• sauces;
• desserts (jelly, mousses, puddings);

• marinades;
• puree;
• fillings for pies and pancakes;
• ice cream;
• baking and confectionery products.

The fruits are popular in dried and canned form; they practically do not lose their properties during heat treatment, enhancing the taste and aroma of ready-made dishes. Lychee combine with many products:

• fruits;
• vegetables (fresh and canned);
• greens;
• berries;
• milk;
• fermented milk products;
• cereals;
• cereals and bran;

• fish;
• bird;
• seafood;
• lean and lean meat;
• dried fruits;
• nuts;
• cheeses;
• cream;
• any juices.

It's better to eat fruit in purified form Be sure to remove the bone. The fruit is included in the menu of fruit diets and fasting days. It is great for breakfasts, lunches and afternoon snacks, perfectly highlighting the taste of cereals, yoghurts, muesli and cottage cheese dishes. Lychee should not be eaten with fatty, spicy or smoked foods, mayonnaise, ketchup, as well as legumes and coffee.

How to eat lychees correctly

Fruits are allowed during pregnancy.

For adults, the daily norm during the diet, when the amount of fatty and high-calorie foods is maximally reduced, is no more than 100 g. With a normal diet, the lychee norm is characterized by 3-4 fruits 2-3 times a week.

Harm and contraindications

The red color of the peel determines the allergic properties of the fruit, so excessive consumption can lead to individual intolerance. Lychees should not be eaten with starchy foods to avoid the risk of digestive upset, heartburn and increased gas formation. It is not recommended to add fruits in large quantities to meat dishes, as this can cause severity and aggravation of gastric diseases. In addition, there are exotic fruits on an empty stomach It's also not worth it.

How to choose lychee fruits

When shaken lightly, a good fruit should tap a little, and be soft to the touch, but elastic. The aroma of fresh ripe lychee gives off a floral trail. It is better to choose fruits on a branch - they have more benefits and useful elements.

How best to store the product

Lychee can be stored in a cool place or refrigerator without losing its properties and changing its composition at t from -1 to +6 °С within 10-14 weeks. They will lie in a warm room 5-6 days.

Individual fruits are dried in their peels, withered, and peeled ones are frozen and canned. Well-dried lychees are used as nuts, while under-dried ones are used as dried fruits.

The exotic fruit with a red lumpy skin and pearly softness has a rich nutritional composition, helps strengthen vision, heart, normalize digestion and defeat the hated extra pounds. In reasonable quantities, it will be an excellent addition to the daily diet, and thanks to the folic acid contained in the fruit, it will provide a boost of energy and good mood.

Beneficial properties of lychee - an exotic fruit from the tropics

Most people, when they hear the word “lychee,” will not think that it means a tasty fruit, although this fruit has been known in Europe since the 18th century. It is imported from tropical countries. Lychee originally grew in China, from where it spread to other countries in Southeast Asia. This fruit is also called Chinese plum or Chinese grape. The beneficial properties of lychee have helped this fruit become very popular. This amazingly beautiful fruit can be purchased at markets from July to October, and in winter only in canned form.

Description of lychee

These small fruits are oval or round in shape, no more than 4 cm in size. The fruit has a rather dense red skin with many pimples, so it looks a bit like a children's rubber ball. The peel is easily separated from the pulp, which is very tasty and aromatic. The inside of the fruit resembles a grape and has the same jelly-like consistency.

The color of the flesh is white or creamy. Inside it is a dark large bone. In China, the fruit is called "dragon's eye" - this is what the cut fruit looks like. Lychee is valued for its refreshing sweet and sour taste and delicate tart aroma, reminiscent of the scent of tea rose. But besides its unusual taste, it has many beneficial properties. Therefore, lychee is consumed not only as a delicacy, but also as a dietary food.

Properties of fruits

The pulp is rich in vitamins and minerals. The fruits are especially rich in vitamin C, nicotinic acid and magnesium and potassium salts. They also contain proteins, complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. Lychee pulp contains a lot of structured water, calcium, sulfur, iron, iodine and zinc. This fruit is low in calories, so it is useful for obesity. It has a low glycemic index and low sugar content.

Benefits of lychee

1. The fruit is a strong aphrodisiac, which is why in the East it is also called the fruit of love.
2. Its consumption reduces cholesterol levels and improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The beneficial properties of lychee are also manifested in the fact that it has a vasodilating effect and maintains the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, so it is good to use as a preventive measure for atherosclerosis and stroke.
3. The tender pulp of the fruit is very refreshing, quenches thirst, and has a tonic effect.
4. Eating fruits improves metabolism and normalizes digestion. They are low in calories, so they promote weight loss.
5. The beneficial properties of lychee make it indispensable for diabetics, lowering blood sugar levels.
6. The fruits are useful for gastritis and ulcers, diseases of the liver and pancreas, and constipation.
7. The presence of protein and minerals makes it an excellent remedy for anemia and exhaustion. It easily satisfies hunger and saturates the body with energy.
8. In oriental medicine, the beneficial properties of lychee are used in the treatment of kidney diseases. A decoction of the peel removes excess water from tissues well.
9. The fruit is useful for bronchitis, tuberculosis and other lung diseases.
10. In China, they even treat cancer by eating lychee along with lemongrass.

Lychee: benefits and harm

Despite such many beneficial properties, lychee can harm the body, especially children. This fruit causes severe allergic reactions in some people. When consumed in large quantities, flatulence begins. In addition, lychee is incompatible with protein foods and starches, as it can cause intestinal upset and diarrhea.

How to choose lychee fruits

The best way to experience the taste and aroma of the fruit is when fresh. But they retain their properties when dried, frozen or canned. In the East, refreshing drinks made from lychee are popular. In our markets, these fruits are usually sold from July to October. They are stored for a long time and are easy to transport, but you need to be able to choose them correctly so as not to acquire overripe or rotten fruits.

1. Be sure to shake each fruit. You should hear a slight tapping sound - this is evidence of the ripeness and freshness of the lychee.
2. Fresh fruit emits a light, delicate aroma of tea rose. It should be pleasant and not strong.
3. Fresh fruits should have a red, not too dark and not too soft skin, which should not have any damage or white spots of mold.

How to use this fruit

Lychee is tastier and healthier when eaten fresh. It is peeled and placed on a plate. These delicious fruits can be consumed in canned or processed form. They make delicious ice cream, soft jam, marmalade and jam. The pulp is also used to make filling for sweet pies, drinks or syrup. And in China they make aromatic wine from lychee. The pulp can be added to tea, sauces and alcoholic cocktails. It goes well with meat and fish dishes, it is added to light salads and roasts. This fruit can be dried and frozen.

• Although these fruits are very common in Asia, only a small part of the huge number ripens.
• In ancient times, only the rich could eat this fruit; peasants were prohibited from doing so.
• Every year in Thailand a traditional holiday is held - the Lychee Festival.
• This fruit has one drawback: it is advisable to consume it immediately after harvesting. Fruits picked from a tree quickly lose their taste.

In oriental medicine, the lychee fruit is very actively used, the beneficial properties of which have been well known since ancient times.

Beneficial properties of lychee

Lychee is one of the most valuable products in the east, and recently it can be found on the shelves of supermarkets in our country. The fruits of this plant are not only incredibly tasty, but also healthy. Lychee is a tree that belongs to the Sapindaceae family. There are about two thousand species and one hundred and fifty genera in the world. Lychee grows mainly in Africa, America and Asia. Not such a large number can be found in Australia. In each of the above countries, the beneficial properties of lychee have long been known.

The fruit first became known in China, where it is also called “lisi” or “liji”. Many documents that date back to the second century BC indicate that the fruits of the plant in question were eaten in ancient China. Over time, the fame of the miraculous fruit began to spread to neighboring countries, and very soon lychee became popular in Southeast Asia and other continents. For the first time, the beneficial properties of lychee were described in detail in the book of Gonzalez de Mendoza, a writer from Spain who promoted Chinese culture.

The average size of the fruits of the plant in question is three and a half centimeters; as for the shape, it can be ovoid or oval. The weight of the fetus can reach a maximum of twenty grams. The fruit is covered with a dense peel, intensely colored red and covered with small tubercles with pimples. Inside the fruit there is white pulp, which resembles jelly in its consistency. Inside the pulp you can find a large, dense, brown seed. The taste of the fruit pulp is surprisingly pleasant, refreshing, sweet and sour. The aroma is no less pleasant and unusual. The Chinese call this fruit the dragon's eye because the flesh is light and the seed inside is large and dark.

Chemical composition of lychee:

• One hundred grams of fruit contains 17 g of carbohydrates, 0.3 g of fat, 0.9 g of protein and 79.5 g of water.
• The fruit also contains vitamin K, C, B9, B6, B5, Niacin, B2 and B1, E and Biotin.
• Macroelements include Phosphorus, Chlorine, Sulfur, Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium.
• Among the microelements in 100 g of pulp are 10 mcg of fluorine, 70 mcg of zinc, 140 mcg of copper, 55 mcg of manganese, 1.3 mcg of iodine and 0.35 mcg of iron.
• The calorie content of lychee is 76 kcal per 100 g.

Beneficial properties of lychee

The benefits of lychee are due to the presence of abundant minerals and vitamins in it. Lychee is often recommended to people who suffer from cardiovascular diseases, since it contains a lot of calcium and vitamin C. It is heart patients in China who often include this fruit in their diet. Also, Chinese sages strongly recommended lychees to those who want to lower blood cholesterol levels or to people with atherosclerosis.

The combination of lychee and lemongrass helps treat cancer. Residents of the East consider this fruit to be the fruit of love, and also use it as a component to treat gastritis, constipation and many other diseases. The thirst-quenching properties of lychee are well known to people who are forced to stay away from water sources for a long time.

The preventative effect of the fruit on the human body is already known to many today; lychee has a beneficial effect on the liver and kidneys. If we talk about medicinal products, the fruit in question is used to treat asthma, respiratory diseases, bronchitis and tuberculosis. If you eat ten fruits of the tree a day, the blood sugar level of diabetics can be brought back to normal.

The benefits of lychee are also represented by the following properties:

• Promotes weight loss;
• Normalizes the functioning of the digestive system;
• Perfectly quenches thirst;
• Has a tonic effect;
• Treats anemia;
• Reduces blood sugar levels;
• Treats constipation.

Contraindications to consuming lychee

The fruit is very tasty and healthy, but you need to know the limit in everything. Abuse of the fruits of this tree in rare cases can cause an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, pimples or irritation of the mucous membrane. Children can consume no more than 100 g of pulp per day. In rare cases, individual intolerance occurs.

Birch sap benefits and harms

Syn: Chinese plum, lisi, liji, laysi, paradise grapes, dragon eye.

Lychee is an evergreen fruit tree with a spreading crown, complex pointed leaves and fragrant pink fruits with lumpy skin. Lychee fruits have good taste and medicinal properties, and are used for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases of the digestive, respiratory, nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Ask the experts a question

In medicine

Lychee is not a pharmacopoeial plant in Russia, but it is popular in Eastern folk medicine and is an active component of some dietary supplements. Oligonol is a pharmacological drug with the same name as the polyphenol contained in lychee, the active component of which is lychee extract. Lychee fruit is processed in the Japanese city of Sapporo at a pharmaceutical plant. The drug Oligonol restores the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, activates blood circulation, eliminating “cold extremity syndrome,” controls the level of antioxidant production in the body, promotes active metabolism, preventing obesity. The drug is recognized by professional cosmetology, as it helps cleanse the skin of the face and lighten its pigmented areas.

The Chinese consume lychee fruits to prevent atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, and reduce blood cholesterol. Having expectorant properties, lychee fruit is useful for colds, bronchitis, asthma, and tuberculosis. Providing a diuretic effect, lychee fruits are used for diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. This product also promotes weight loss and actively fights fat deposits in the body. Regular consumption of fruits normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and blood sugar levels, and eliminates chronic constipation. Decoctions from the peel of lychee fruits or tree flowers help with fatigue, depression and neuroses. Chinese lychee in the East is a well-known aphrodisiac, a remedy that gives men sexual strength. Regular consumption of fruits reduces the risk of developing cancer. Medicinal mixtures, including lychee fruit, are used to treat cancer in the initial stages of the disease.

Contraindications and side effects

If we talk about the benefits and harms of lychee fruit, then the only contraindications for consuming this tasty and medicinal fruit are individual intolerance and a tendency to exhibit allergic reactions. Children are allowed to consume no more than 100 g of lychee per day, as skin rashes may occur. Overeating in adults affects the oral mucosa and develops flatulence. Those who adhere to protein diets should be careful when consuming lychee, since intestinal disturbances (diarrhea, flatulence) are possible.

In cooking

The fruits of the lychee tree are eaten fresh, dried or canned. Various desserts, sweet dishes, jelly, and ice cream are prepared from these fruits. The pulp of the fruit is close in taste to white grape varieties; inside it is a brown oval seed. Dried lychee fruit is also a valuable food product called lychee nut. In its dried pulp, the bone rolls like a ball. Traditional Chinese wine is made from lychee fruits. Canned seedless fruits are exported to different parts of the world. Lychee goes well with fish. Sweet and sour sauce is also prepared from the fruits, which is served with meat dishes. Black leaf tea infused with lychee peel is an excellent tonic drink called Congou. It is consumed not only hot, but also chilled, with the addition of pieces of ice. Saketini is a traditional Chinese aperitif, which includes sake, dry vermouth and aromatic lychee syrup.

In cosmetology

Lychee fruits are successfully used in professional and home cosmetology. Lychee fruit extract is an active ingredient in many skin and hair care products. Lychee is often present in anti-aging and sunscreen cosmetics. Lychee fruit is considered an excellent antioxidant. The plant extract is used to treat problematic, dry skin. The drug "Oligonol" based on lychee fruit is used to lighten pigmented spots on the face. Masks based on Chinese lychees well moisturize the skin of the face and body due to the presence of essential oils in the fruits. Hair using lychee-based shampoos acquires a healthy shine, and as a result of using the fruit extract, the growth of hair follicles is activated.

In other areas

It is known that lychees are excellent honey plants. Lychee fruit honey is golden in color and aromatic. Lychee wood is quite hard and durable, practically not subject to rotting, which is why it is often used in construction, as well as in the manufacture of some carpentry.

Classification

Lychee or Chinese lychee (lat. Litchi chinensis) is a subtropical fruit tree growing in tropical and subtropical climates. Belongs to the large Sapindaceae family. There are approximately 150 genera in the family, and about 2000 species.

Botanical description

Lychee is an evergreen fruit-bearing tree, usually reaching a height of up to 15 meters. It has a spreading crown of a round shape and a gray smooth trunk. The leaves of the plant are compound, dark green, shiny, pair-pinnate (less often imparipinnate), consisting of 5-8 oval or lanceolate-shaped leaflets with a pointed end. The seedling tree begins to bear fruit in the fifth to ninth year of life; lychees grown vegetatively produce fruit at the age of four. The yield of the tree increases every year; after the 20-year mark, the number of fruits decreases. The lychee tree grows quite slowly. Lychee fruit is an oval pink-red fruit, weighing up to 20 g. The top of the lychee fruit is covered with a lumpy soft peel, which is easily separated from the pulp. Under the skin there is a juicy, whitish, sour-sweet pulp with a seed-bone inside. Lychee fruits ripen in May - early June. Fragrant lychee flowers have a yellow-green calyx, without petals, the flowers are collected in lush inflorescences-umbrellas, about 70 cm long. Both male and female flowers develop on the same plant, and the male ones usually bloom earlier. Of the many flowers, only a few produce fruit. Bees facilitate pollination.

Based on the appearance of the leaves, two main types of lychee are distinguished: Chinese lychee (Litchi chinensis subsp. сhinensis), whose habitat is China and Indochina. Leaf blades of this species have 4-8 leaf lobes. In the Philippine lychee species (Litchi chinensis subsp. philippinensis), common in the Philippine Islands, on the island of Papua New Guinea and in Indonesia, the leaves are dissected into only 2-4 leaflets.

Spreading

Currently, lychees are cultivated in China, Japan, many countries in Southeast Asia, Africa and South America, as well as in the southern states of the United States. Many countries in Southeast Asia are exporters of lychee fruit. Fruit trees grow well in the subtropics with relatively cool, dry winters; in the humid equatorial climate, lychees usually do not bear fruit.

Procurement of raw materials

The fruits of the lychee tree have healing properties. It is better to store fruits frozen, peeled, for about 3 months, since lychees are classified as perishable food products. Fresh fruits of the lychee tree have a short shelf life - only 3 days at room temperature. Therefore, lychee fruits are difficult to store and transport to distant countries. The fruits are carefully picked from the trees in whole bunches. At above-zero temperatures of up to 7°C, lychee can be stored for about 30 days. When buying lychees in a store, you need to know how to select high-quality fruits. If the fruits have been picked a long time ago, the peel will be dark brown and hard. Bright, pink-red, soft to the touch fruits are especially aromatic and suitable for consumption. Lychee fruit retains its beneficial properties even in dried form.

Chemical composition

Lychee fruits are rich in vitamin composition, so the benefits of lychee are essential for the human body. Fruits contain a large amount of complex carbohydrates, pectins, proteins, fiber, vitamins B, E, C, PP, minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iodine, copper, zinc, iron, fluorine, selenium, manganese; organic acids, among others of which a high content of nicotinic acid was found. The calorie content of lychee is approximately 76 kcal per 100 g of product.

Pharmacological properties

Due to the high content of nicotinic acid in lychee fruits, the fruits prevent and reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. In the course of scientific research, American scientists found that lychee fruit contains a unique active substance - polyphenol oligonol. It is a powerful antioxidant and antiviral agent that helps the body get rid of many free radicals. The presence of free radicals is the main cause of aging and decreased immunity. Oligonol is able to protect the liver from various unfavorable factors, and also prolongs the youth of the body, preventing premature aging of cells. Possessing a large amount of beta-carotene, lychee fruit has anti-tumor properties. Chinese scientists have proven that regular consumption of the fruits of the lychee tree helps reduce the level of stress hormone, thereby protecting the nervous system from the negative effects of stressful situations and emotional tension. In addition, due to the presence of polyphenol in its composition, lychee fruit, when consumed regularly, has a beneficial effect on the condition of the heart muscle and improves immunity.

Use in folk medicine

Due to its unique composition and the presence of many beneficial properties, lychees have found wide use in Eastern folk medicine. The Chinese consume fresh or dried fruits to prevent atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, to cleanse the blood of harmful cholesterol and normalize metabolic processes in the body. The high content of ascorbic acid in lychee allows the fruit to be used to treat colds, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis, and improve immunity. Syrup made from fruit pulp is recommended for anemia. Lychee fruit is an excellent decongestant for kidney diseases. Ten fruits eaten per day normalize blood glucose levels; fruits are good for diabetes. Fruits in any form are useful for diseases of the pancreas, liver, and digestive organs (ulcers, gastritis). Fiber-rich fruits promote regular bowel movements, relieving chronic constipation. A decoction of lychee seeds relieves neuralgic pain well. A decoction of lychee flowers is used to gargle for sore throats, pharyngitis, and laryngitis. Tea infused with lychee peel is an excellent tonic for the body. Used for neuroses, depression, fatigue. In Eastern countries, lychees are considered the “fruit of love” - an aphrodisiac that stimulates potency in men. As part of medicinal preparations, together with lemongrass, the Chinese use lychee to treat cancer. Diets with moderate consumption of lychee give good results - low-calorie fruits satisfy hunger, have a diuretic effect and promote fat burning.

Historical reference

The first mention of the lychee fruit dates back to the 2nd century BC, during the reign of the Chinese emperor Wu Di. According to legend, the ruler wanted to grow an exotic tree in the northern regions of China, since until that time lychees had been successfully cultivated in the south of the country. For his unsuccessful attempt to introduce this fruit into the culture of northern China from the southern part of the country, Wu Di became angry and gave the order to execute all the gardeners at the court. The fruit tree was brought to European countries in the mid-17th century. Currently, lychee is considered the most popular fruit in Southeast Asia.
French botanist and traveler Pierre Sonnera brought exotic young lychee trees to Europe. In the book of the Spanish writer Gonzalez de Mendoza, Europeans could read a description of the exotic lychee fruit trees. The author claimed that lychees are similar to plums, but overeating them does not cause heaviness in the stomach. Now “Chinese plum” is one of the names of the lychee fruit. The juicy pulp and elongated brown seed inside gave rise to the fruit being called the “eye of the dragon.” The first lychee plantation already appeared in 1764 on the island of Reunion; a little later, lychees began to be grown en masse in Madagascar, which has become a supplier of fruit almost to this day. Gradually, over time, the range of lychee expanded, trees grew in southern Japan, Burma, India, South Africa, in America - Honduras, the southern states of the USA, Brazil.

Literature

1. Plant life. In 6 volumes / Ch. ed. member-corr. USSR Academy of Sciences, prof. Al. A. Fedorov. - M.: Education, 1981. - T. 5, Part 2. Flowering plants. Ed. A. L. Takhtadzhyan. - P. 263.

2. The world of cultivated plants. Directory / Baranov V.D., Ustimenko G.V. - M.: Mysl, 1994. - P. 300-302. - 381 p.

3. Novak B., Schultz B. Tropical fruits. Biology, application, cultivation and harvesting / Transl. with him. - M.: BMM AO, 2002. - P. 59-60. - 240 s.

4. Samoilenko M. Healing juices. - Litres, 2015. - 489 p.

If you have at least once been to the markets of Thailand, India or South Africa, then you are probably familiar with the fruit lychee. Traders often offer tourists to try this strange berry. Therefore, before your trip, find out: what kind of fruit is it, what does it look like in the photo and how to eat it correctly?

What is lychee

Chinese plum, dragon eye, liji, laysi or in Latin litchi chinensis - all these are the names of one fruit that came to us from China. Lychee is a tropical evergreen fruit tree from the dicotyledonous flowering plant family. Its fruits are small, usually bright red, pinkish or brown, oval in shape, no more than four centimeters long.

In the photo above, the small berries are covered with numerous tubercles on which there are sharp thorns. When the fruit ripens, the dry peel is easily separated from the pulp. Lychee juice tastes slightly tart, the pulp is astringent in the mouth and vaguely resembles grapes, strawberries and apples at the same time. In the center of the berry there is an oblong dark brown seed. The pulp itself contains a lot of vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, but the most important advantage of its composition is vitamin PP, which actively removes harmful cholesterol from the body.

How to eat lychee correctly

In Asian countries, overripe fruits are used to produce wine and vinegar. Europeans approach the process of processing this tropical fruit from a different angle, often adding the pulp to drinks, desserts and using it to make ice cream or sorbet. If you wish, you can find many useful and simple recipes with photos where this fruit is used.

The berries are also eaten fresh, but to appreciate the full taste of this aromatic product, you need to be able to choose it correctly. On tree branches, fruits can hang until the beginning of autumn, but picked fruits cannot be stored for a long time. Therefore, in stores, ripe lychees are mainly sold together with stalks and green leaves. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the color of the peel. A green tint indicates that the berry was picked too early, and a dark brown shell indicates overripeness - such a fruit has already lost its aroma and sweet taste.

How to peel lychee

The peel of this healthy fruit is not suitable for food, so it must be removed before eating the fruit. You can clean lychees in different ways:

• Option one is to make a small cut near the stalk itself and carefully separate the peel with your hands. Then cut into the soft flesh and remove the pit. This is the most optimal way to keep the fruit intact.
• Option two is to take the fruit with both hands, lightly pressing it, and turn the skin in different directions. The disadvantage of this cleaning method is that with strong pressure you can ruin the appearance of the berries.
• Option three - carefully cut off the top layer at the very stem and use a teaspoon to remove the tender pulp.

Is it possible to eat lychee seeds?

Only the pulp of the fruit is considered edible, but everything else is not suitable for food. Although you can’t eat lychee seeds, Chinese craftsmen often process them into a powdery mass at home. The powder is used to make a healthy tea, which is drunk for medicinal purposes to treat digestive disorders or to prevent worms. However, there is still no scientific evidence of the properties of the seeds or their benefits for the body.

Lychee in syrup

These tropical fruits are sold fresh in stores seasonally: from May to October. During the rest of the year, you can try canned lychees, and at a very affordable price - 1 serving of 550 ml will cost you about 200 rubles. The canned product looks like ordinary peeled garlic, but its taste and smell are not lost even after a long time in the marinade.

Video

The exotic lychee fruit is a very healthy and tasty fruit, which can now be found not only in distant countries, but thanks to supermarkets, these fruits also come to us. But not everyone takes the risk of buying them, since it is unknown what the taste of this fruit will be and what they can be used for. Let's find out what kind of fruit this is and what it is eaten with...

Lychee fruit has several names: “Chinese lychee”, “liji”, “laysi”, “lisi”, “Chinese plum” - it is a small fruit, oval in shape, the maximum size of a ripe fruit can reach from 2.5 to 3.5 cm , and the maximum weight is 20 grams. It grows on evergreen trees that belong to the Sapindaceae family. The leaves are pinnate with 4-8 leaf blades, shiny, leathery. In total, there are about one hundred and fifty genera and about two thousand species in the world. Lychee trees have an average height of 15 meters, but can grow up to 30 meters.

From some of the names of the fruit, you can guess where this delicious fruit came from; the birthplace of the lychee fruit is China, as evidenced by some documents dating back to the second century BC. Then the fruit began to spread throughout Southeast Asia. In Europe, they learned about the fruit only in the 17th century; it was first described in his book by the Spanish writer Gonzalez de Mendoza. He wrote that lychees were somewhat reminiscent of plums, with pulp in the middle, and you can eat them in any quantity, since they do not cause heaviness in the stomach at all. Currently, lychees are grown in China, Japan and most countries in Southeast Asia, many countries in Africa and South America and the southern states of the United States.

Lychee fruits have a red or pink hue and are covered with a dense skin with small tubercles. Before eating the fruit, you need to remove the peel, this is done easily, you should put a little pressure on the peel and, using the tips of your nails, peel the fruit, separating the peel from the pulp. The lychee pulp is very juicy, white in color, with a consistency reminiscent of plums or grapes, with a pleasant sweet and sour taste reminiscent of currants and a little strawberry, and it also has a delightful aroma. In the middle of the fruit there is an oblong dark brown seed. If you cut a lychee in half, you will notice that it will look like an eye, which is why the Chinese also call it “dragon eye.”

The fruit not only has a wonderful taste, but also has many beneficial properties, it quenches thirst well and tones the body, due to the fact that it contains a large amount of water, normalizes the functioning of the digestive system and is recommended for those who have ulcers, gastritis , diabetes, liver and pancreas diseases. The fruit is useful for diseases of atherosclerosis and other diseases of the cardiovascular system, due to the fact that lychee contains nicotinic acid and a complex of minerals consisting of potassium, magnesium, calcium, in ideal proportions, which helps cleanse the blood of cholesterol and dilates blood vessels. Due to its powerful tonic effect, the fruit in China is also considered an excellent natural aphrodisiac. And the people of India call lychees the fruit of love. Flitchi also helps in weight loss.

Lychee fruits contain a huge variety of vitamins, micro and macro elements due to which it has a very beneficial effect on the human body.

100 g of lychee contains:

Water – 79.5 g
Proteins – 0.9 g
Fats – 0.3 g
Carbohydrates – 17 g
Dietary fiber (fiber) –1.6 g

Vitamins:

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) – 0.05 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 0.05 mg
Niacin (vitamin B3 or vitamin PP) – 0.53 mg
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) – 0.25 mg
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) – 0.01 mg
Folic acid (vitamin B9) – 25 mcg
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) – 39.2 mg
Vitamin E (tocopherol) – 0.5 mg
Biotin (vitamin H) – 0.5 mcg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) – 10 mcg

Macronutrients:

Potassium - 180 mg
Calcium - 9 mg
Magnesium - 10 mg
Sodium - 3 mg
Sulfur – 19 mcg
Chlorine – 3 mg
Phosphorus - 33 mg

Microelements:
Iron – 0.35 mg
Iodine – 1.6 mcg
Manganese – 55 mcg
Copper – 140 mcg
Zinc – 70 mcg
Fluoride – 10 mcg

Calorie content

100 g of lychee contains on average about 60 kcal.

Lychee fruits are consumed either fresh or added to sweet dishes, various desserts, liqueurs, jellies, sauces, ice cream, tea, cocktails, and also used as a filling for pies and puddings. Lychee pulp is even preserved with sugar and exported in this form to many countries. And in China, traditional Chinese wine is produced from lychee fruits. It also goes well with fish and is used in the preparation of sweet and sour sauce, which is served with meat dishes.

The most delicious lychee is considered to be from Thailand; the lychee harvesting season lasts from May to early July; you cannot buy it at other times. When buying lychee, you need to choose a larger fruit and make it as red or pink as possible, since with this color it will be ripe and tasty, and the fruit must be very elastic so that it seems that it is about to burst. If you see that the peel of the fruit is dark in color, this means that the fruit was removed from the branch a long time ago and its taste will be unpleasant.