In Australia, fresh lychees are a prized summer delicacy available mid-October to March.
Choose plump lychees with vibrant pink or red skin that feels firm and slightly springy. Some ripe varieties may retain patches of green.
Originating in southern China, lychees have been cultivated for over 2,000 years and were once prized in Chinese imperial courts. Australia has one of the world’s longest lychee seasons—and once picked, lychees do not ripen any further!