Dried Lychee

Dried lychee is the dehydrated flesh of the lychee fruit, a tropical stone fruit prized for its fragrant, floral sweetness. Drying concentrates the flavour into something resembling a cross between a raisin and a perfumed date, with a chewy, slightly leathery texture.

Dried lychees are a traditional snack in China and South-East Asia, where they’ve been preserved this way for centuries. They can be eaten as they are, added to trail mixes, or rehydrated and used in desserts, teas, and sweet soups. They pair well with other tropical dried fruits and make an interesting addition to fruit cakes.

In Australia, dried lychees can be found at Asian grocery stores, usually sold with the shell still on — you crack them open like a nut to reach the dried fruit inside.