Lychee or litchi fruit, is the most renowned of a group of edible fruits of the soapberry family. Lychee tree is handsome, dense, round-topped, slow-growing, 9 - 30 m high and equally broad. Lychee is native to low elevations of the provinces of Guangdong and Fujian, the leading centre of lychee production from southern China, where it flourishes especially along rivers and near the seacoast. Cultivation spread over the years through neighbouring areas of south eastern Asia and offshore islands. Lychees are most relished fresh, out-of-hand. Peeled and pitted, they are commonly added to fruit cups and fruit salads. The fruits are also used in snacks, dessert, puree, sherbet, fruit juice, canned fruits, beverages and syrup.
