A lychee is a small, round tropical fruit with rough red skin, sweet white flesh, and a large seed inside. It is often eaten fresh or used in desserts and drinks.
From Cantonese 'lai^6 zi^2' (荔枝), which was adapted into English spellings like 'lychee' or 'litchi.' The fruit has been cultivated in China for over a thousand years before spreading widely.
Lychee’s floral, perfume-like taste comes from aromatic compounds that are rare in Western fruits, which is why it can feel both fruity and almost like a rose. It’s a good reminder that 'fruit flavor' is not one universal category but a whole spectrum of plant chemistry.
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