When is the lychee season? Many eagerly await the ripening season for these delicious fruits. Lychees typically mature in June and July each year, though some varieties appear in markets as early as April. This is primarily because lychees, like bananas, are not suitable for long storage and must be harvested early to allow sufficient time for transportation and other logistics.If you purchase firm lychees, they can be ripened with simple methods for normal consumption. When do lychees ripen? The ripening time also depends on the cultivar, with different varieties maturing at varying times. The earliest lychees, such as the March Red variety, can be enjoyed as early as March.
Notable Chinese varieties include Guangdong's March Red and Jade Lotus (early-ripening); Black Leaf and Huai Branch (mid-season); and Green Hanging and Glutinous Rice Cake (late-season). Fujian's renowned varieties include Zhuangyuan Red, Chenzi, and Lantzu—the latter excelling in quality and mountainous cultivation. Sichuan's Da Hong Pao and Nanmu Leaf are also regional staples.
Ripening in late March of the lunar calendar and appearing early in the market, it earned the name March Red. It is among the earliest-maturing varieties. Primary production areas include Xinhui, Zhongshan, and Zengcheng in Guangdong. The fruit is heart-shaped, broad at the top and tapering at the bottom; the龟裂片 (crack patterns) vary in size and are irregularly arranged, with sutures not very prominent; the skin is thick and pale red;The flesh is yellowish-white, slightly tough, and coarse-textured. The large seed has a sour-sweet flavor, leaving a residue after eating.
Matures in late May or early June: Round Branch
Also known as Shuidong or Shuidong Black Leaf. Distributed in the suburbs of Guangzhou and counties across the Pearl River Delta. Named "Shuidong Black Leaf" for its suitability to waterlogged planting and its long, pointed leaves resembling black leaves but thinner.Fruit is short-ovoid with a higher shoulder and lower base; crack patterns are slightly flat and wide, non-prickly, and regularly arranged. Should be deep red; flesh is soft, smooth, juicy, sweet with a hint of sourness, and slightly fragrant.
Matures mid-June: Black Leaf
Also known as Leaf Branch or Black Leaf. Named for its deep green, nearly black foliage.Cultivated in Guangdong, Fujian, and Guangxi. Fruit is short-ovoid,
with a rounded or blunt apex and flat base; skin is deep red with a thin shell. Turtle-shell cracks are flat and blunt, uniformly sized, and regularly arranged, with distinct fissures and sutures. The flesh is firm, crisp, sweet, and juicy, typically containing a large seed. Relatively storable.That concludes our introduction to the lychee season. We hope you've gained valuable insights. Wishing you good health and joy in life.