Lychee (Li Zhi), botanical name Litchi chinensis, is a tropical fruit tree native from southern China (Canton). It is a medium-sized evergreen tree, reaching 30 ft tall.

The fruit ripens from late May to June. Its outside is covered by a red, roughly-textured rind that is inedible but easily removed. The inside consists of a layer of sweet, translucent white flesh, rich in vitamin C, enveloping a brown nut-like seed.

The Lychee fruit has been one of the most renowned fruits due to their exceptional flavor bestows and addictive quality. Ancient Chinese poetry by Su Shi reads "Eating 300 Lychee fruits daily, I enjoy being a Cantonese forever".