Lychee fruit

Lychee is a tropical and subtropical fruit tree native to the Guangdong, Fujian and Yunnan provinces of Southeast China, where cultivation is documented from the 11th century. China is the main producer of lychees, followed by India, other countries in Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Madagascar and South Africa.

As a fresh agricultural product, it is typically sold as a generic commodity rather than under a specific brand name. Commercial production involves significant processing stages including cooling and sorting to maintain freshness during transport. Historically, the fruit was a delicacy in the Chinese Imperial Court and has since spread globally as a popular sweet, fleshy fruit for fresh consumption, canning, or drying.