"lychee" news and stories

A few years ago, we finished dinner in a restaurant in San Francisco and began looking over the dessert menu. I remember seeing the word "soup" on there and thought it was either a mistake, or someone was making fun of us. Soup for dessert? (Really, this was about 12 years ago.)

However, "soup" for dessert is a fabulous thing, particularly in the warmer seasons when you want something chilled, or refreshing after a heavy meal. Chez Pim made Loy Gaew , a common way of serving fresh fruit in Thailand. "Loy gaew" literally means floating crystals, which refers to the crushed ice floating in clear syrup. Pim provides the recipe for this gorgeous one made of fresh lychee and oranges floating in a ginger syrup. It sounds delicious, and looks gorgeous.

If you thought the chaos was over because Valentine's Day has passed, think again. The Lunar New Year is this weekend (Sunday, February 18), and it's a whole new cycle of fun.

Because lychees are traditionally associated with Asian cultures, a lychee martini is the perfect way to start off this weekend. There are several ways to make this subtly flavored cocktail -- whether using a lychee flavored liqueur or regular vodka mixed with lychee syrup -- but my favorite recipe really puts the lychee flavor out there by combining both!

In a cocktail shaker, combine 3 oz. lychee infused vodka or lychee liqueur (like Lichido) with 1 oz. lychee syrup (you can make your own using this recipe, though there are sources online for purchase) and ice. Pur into a martini glass and garnish with a fresh lychee.

Say that five times fast!

Flavor-infused vodkas are all the rage these days, particularly as the base to fancy cocktails. While lemon and other citrus fruits have been around for a while, infusers are becoming increasingly more exotic like pomegranate and lychee.

Lichido Liqueur isn't exactly an infused vodka. It is actually a liqueur. In fact, the website where it is sold ($22.99) says that it is a martini in a bottle made of vodka, Cognac and infused with not only lychee, but guava and white peaches. As long as it isn't too sticky sweet, it sounds delish!


[via: ThisNext]

I love the description on the front of the new seasonal Innocent Smoothie - "This smoothie is for spring, season of daffodils, frisky squirrels and slightly lower heating bills".

How can you not be seduced by this? The flavour is Lychees and Passion Fruit. And in each 250ml bottle they shove 2 apples, 6 lychees, half a mashed banana (why a banana?), 1 passion fruit and some orange juice.

Each bottle thus provides the recommended daily intake of fruit. I don't buy them that often, as although they are tasty, they just seem to be a little too expensive.

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