Introduction

• Family: Sapindaceae
• Litchi is also an excellent source of Vitamin C, but it contains insignificant amount of protein, fat, pectin and minerals especially calcium, phosphorous and iron.
• Ripe fruit eaten as fresh
• A highly flavored squash is prepared from the inferior fruits
• Alcohol
• Dried litchi, commonly known as ‘Litchi’ is very popular in China
• Litchi drink-Juice
• Litchi fruit is famous for its attractive red colour, excellent quality characteristics and pleasant flavor.

Botany

• It grows to a height of 9 to 10 meters. The flowers are small and borne in terminal panicles which are upto 30 cm long.
• The flowers are unisexual, bisexual or intermediate. Pollination is done by insects.
• In Nepal flowering takes place in the months of February (Falgun).
• The fruits are oval to ovate in shape and borne in cluster of 4-5 to 20 or even more.
• The color of the fruit is usually pinkish red. The skin of the fruit is tough and brittle.
• The seed is dark brown in color.
• The seed is generally big, but in seedless varieties the seed is small and wrinkled.
• The flesh or aril is white, translucent, firm, juicy and sweet and contains 10-15% of soluble sugar and 1.15% proteins