Australian Lychees

Australian Lychees

Did you know 2 out of 3 people with an Australian background have never tried a fresh lychee?

Australian lychees are available from now until March with the season peaking in December and January when lychees are abundantly available.

Crop
The lychee industry predicts a good season as weather conditions have been conducive to the growth of quality fruit. Although difficult to predict, the total crop should approach 4,000 tonnes or approximately 200 million lychees.

Harvesting
It's no secret Australian lychees are the freshest and best in the world. Australian growers do not use sulphur dioxide to retain skin colour, so Australian lychees are always fresh, sweet, juicy and natural.
Australia has a long lychee season with fruit available longer than other countries. Early season fruit (from October to December) comes from North Queensland, while fruit available later in the season (January to mid March) comes from South Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

Selection
Most lychee varieties are ripe when the skin turns pink or red. Once picked, lychees do not continue to ripen. Choose fruit that is firm and springy, with lush red or pink skin. Fruit with a brown skin has changed colour due to contact with the air and in-store air conditioning, however taste is unaffected and these lychees are still perfect to eat.

Handling and Storage
Keep fresh lychees wrapped in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for five to seven days to ensure freshness, or at room temperature for two to three days.
Be aware lychees will discolour in just a couple of hours if left exposed to air-conditioning, as dehydration turns lychees brown. While eating quality is unaffected, the fruit may look poor.
Lychees can be frozen or dried within their protective skin and kept for up to six months.

Healthy treat
Australian lychees are packed full of hidden health and nutrition benefits. Seven lychees (one serve) contain as much vitamin C as a small orange and provide 100% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. Lychees are also ranked second behind strawberries in antioxidant levels. They have fewer than 65 calories per 100g and are fat-free. Lychees are medium GI, with a GI level of 57. Their slow releasing energy makes them a great snack to keep you going.

Usage Suggestions

Peel away the red skin and enjoy lychees fresh.

Add lychees to a healthy salad.

Use in marinade and sauces for a summer BBQ.

Peel and put lychees in a freezer to make a refreshing snack.

Use them to make a delicious jelly, crumble or cake.

Muddle together fresh mint with lychees and mineral water for a refreshing summer drink.
Support Australian lychee growers this season by enjoying sweet and refreshing lychees.