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 also medium GI, with a GI level of 57. Their slow releasing energy makes them a great snack to keep you going.
The lychee (Litchi chinensis) is a subtropical fruit. It is oval to round in shape and about the size of a walnut. Its thin, red bumpy skin is easily peeled to reveal a white, juicy, translucent ball of firm jelly-like flesh that surrounds a shiny brown seed.
Lychees are berries and are produced on tropical evergreen trees. The trees are attractive with shiny, leathery green leaves and long sprays of green, white or yellow flowers. After a few months, the sprays of flowers become bunches of fruit.
Once ripe, the bunches of fruit are harvested by hand.
After harvest, fruit are graded and packed, ready for delivery.
Australian Lychee Growers Association — representing Australian lychee growers