The red fruit of the soapberry tree, lychee fruit has a very sweet and delicate taste. Some say that it almost tastes like the combination of a strawberry and a grape, or perhaps a pear and a grape. In fresh form, they have almost a perfume-like quality, and can be quite delicious eaten fresh out of the shell. The texture is very much like that of a peeled grape, with a large, smooth seed in the center that should be discarded before eating.
Avoid green or unripe lychees, as they are quite bitter, similar to bananas.
Asian Lychee Martini
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 4 ounces (1/2 cup) vodka
- 4 ounces (1/2 cup) dry sake or sparkling wine
- 2 tablespoons litchi syrup, (from can)
- 4 to 6 canned or fresh litchis
DIRECTIONS
Place 2 to 3 litchis in each of two chilled 10-ounce martini glasses. Fill a 20-ounce cocktail shaker with 2 cups of ice. Add vodka, sake, and litchi syrup. Shake well, and divide between martini glasses. Serve immediately.
Drink source: Martha Stewart