Rose-scented lychees eaten by the kilo in the weeks before Christmas. Madagascar supplies most of Europe’s Christmas lychees, shipped in refrigerated vessels out of Toamasina every December.
It is a fruit eaten raw from the shell. There is nothing to prepare and no method to write down.
What goes into it
- the fruit itself
How it is made
Nothing is made. The fruit ripens on the tree in November and December, is picked in bunches, and — for export — is treated with sulphur to keep the shell from browning, then shipped chilled by sea to reach Europe in time for Christmas. The whole industry is a logistics problem rather than a culinary one.
How long it takes: a six-week harvest window each December
How it is eaten
Peeled from the shell and eaten by the handful, seed spat out.
History
Madagascar supplies most of Europe’s Christmas lychees, shipped in refrigerated vessels from Toamasina each December.
Frequently asked questions
What is Litchi?
Litchi is a snack from Madagascar: rose-scented lychees eaten by the kilo in the weeks before Christmas. Madagascar supplies most of Europe’s Christmas lychees, shipped in refrigerated vessels from Toamasina each December.
How is Litchi made?
Nothing is made. The fruit ripens on the tree in November and December, is picked in bunches, and — for export — is treated with sulphur to keep the shell from browning, then shipped chilled by sea to reach Europe in time for Christmas. The whole industry is a logistics problem rather than a culinary one. It takes a six-week harvest window each December.
Can I make Litchi at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. It is a fruit eaten raw from the shell. There is nothing to prepare and no method to write down.
What goes into Litchi?
The fruit itself.
How is Litchi eaten?
Peeled from the shell and eaten by the handful, seed spat out.
