Lychee processed products in the Czech Republic and Europe

In addition to fresh lychees, there are many lychee processed products on the Czech market and in some neighboring EU countries:

• Canned lychees (canned lychees): Commonly sold in Asian supermarkets and food stores. For example, a can of canned lychees weighing 565–567g (Spring Happiness brand, imported from Thailand) costs about 79 CZK per can. There are also more premium products such as Diamond lychee kompot (made in China) 540g for 134.90 CZK per box. (The price is equivalent to about 140 CZK/kg based on the weight of the sugar water).
• Dried lychees: Lychees can be dried or freeze-dried (freeze-dried) to make snacks. Due to the loss of water, this type is quite expensive. For example, freeze-dried lychees from Vietnam are sold for around 100 CZK for a 25g package – equivalent to 4000 CZK/kg. Despite the high price/weight, dried lychees retain their rich sweetness and nutrients.
• Lychee-flavored juices and drinks: Many bottled/canned lychee-flavored drinks are available. FOCO lychee-flavored soft drink (imported from Thailand) is available in a 350ml can for around 44.90 CZK per can. This drink contains a small amount of lychee extract (around 5–25% depending on the product) combined with sugar, and is often consumed directly, very popular in the Asian community.
• Lychee wine: There are also lychee-based wines and liqueurs on the European market. In the Czech Republic, Fruko-Schulz (Czech Republic) produces lychee liqueur (Lychee Liqueur) with an alcohol content of 20% and a retail price of 210–220 CZK/bottle. This liqueur has a distinctive lychee flavor and is often used in cocktails (such as lychee martinis) or as a dessert. Lychee products are generally not as popular as fresh lychees, but can be found in Asian supermarkets, import stores, or canned goods counters in large Czech supermarkets. For example, canned lychees from Thailand or China are often available in the Asian food section, lychee juice is available in some supermarkets (in the imported drinks section), and lychee liqueur is available in imported spirits stores. These products allow consumers to enjoy the taste of lychees all year round, even when fresh lychees are not available in season.

Thanh Ha Lychee Varieties for Export

A bunch of ripe Thanh Ha lychees has a characteristic light pink skin and a smooth skin surface (stubborn thorns).

Currently, Thanh Ha district (Hai Duong) has a number of main lychee varieties that are grown and officially exported to the international market. Below is information about each exported lychee variety, including identification characteristics, flavor, and how to use and preserve:

Thanh Ha White Egg Lychee

• Identification characteristics: White egg lychees are round, quite large in size; the ripe skin is bright red and relatively smooth (the thorns are very small). The flesh is thick, clear white and dry (when peeled, the skin does not stick to your hands when peeled). This is the earliest lychee variety of the season, usually starting to be harvested from mid-May.
• Taste: White egg lychees have a mild aroma and a cool, sweet taste, similar to main-season lychees; almost no sour taste like some other early-season lychees. Thanks to good breeding and care, the fruit has outstanding quality: rich sweetness but not harsh, with a pleasant, refreshing aftertaste.
• Use & preservation: This type of lychee is best eaten fresh to fully enjoy the aroma and sweetness of the beginning of the season. White egg lychee has a thick, dry flesh, so it is very suitable for fresh service in high-end markets; businesses often harvest, cold-pack and export by air at the beginning of the season. Consumers should store lychee at cool temperatures (5-8°C) to keep it fresh for 3-5 days. In addition to eating fresh, white egg lychee can be used to make juice, smoothies or prepare desserts; however, due to the high quality of the fruit and limited output, most of it is consumed fresh.

Thanh Ha U Hong Lychee

• Identification characteristics: U Hong lychee (also known as medium lychee) belongs to the early ripening group, harvested about 1-2 weeks after white egg lychee (late May - early June). The fruit has a unique heart shape: the stem is slightly concave and the shoulder is protruding, when cut lengthwise, a “U”-shaped cut is visible (the name U Hong comes from here). The fruit peel is thin; when ripe, the part near the stem is bright pink-red while the end of the fruit remains light yellow or bright green. The fruit size is average, about 30–35 fruits/kg.
• Flavor: U Hong litchi when ripe has a moderate sweetness, not as strong as the main season litchi. If the fruit is still green, it will have a slightly sour taste, when fully ripe, it will be sweet and refreshing. The edible pulp ratio is about 55–60% of the fruit weight (moderately thick flesh, medium-sized seeds). The aroma of U Hong fruit is light, the sweet taste is light, so it is easy to eat, suitable for those who do not like strong sweetness.
• Usage & preservation: U Hong litchi is often consumed fresh at the beginning of the season because it has a refreshing and refreshing taste. People often use U Hong lychee as dessert, eat it directly or mix it with yogurt, make jelly, smoothies, etc. Due to its thin skin, this type of lychee quickly loses color after picking, so it needs to be refrigerated early. To keep the lychee fresh longer, it should be stored at 5°C and high humidity, which helps prolong the freshness for a few more days. Businesses often export U Hong lychee to nearby markets (for example, China) immediately after harvest to ensure quality; in addition, it can be processed into cans or freeze-dried if it needs to be transported far away.

Thanh Ha Lychee

• Identifying characteristics: Thanh Ha Lychee (also known as Thanh Ha Lychee) belongs to the group of early-ripening mid-season varieties, harvested around mid-June (a little earlier than the main-season lychee, a few days after U Hong lychee). The lychee fruit is quite large and round, averaging about 35-40 fruits/kg. The fruit peel is thick, when ripe it has an eye-catching bright red color; the rind spines are large but the rind spines are rough (the surface of the rind is relatively smooth). Thanks to the thick, sturdy rind, this hybrid lychee variety is less likely to be crushed and looks bright and uniform on the outside.
• Flavor: The pulp of the hybrid lychee has an average thickness, accounting for about 60-65% of the fruit weight. When ripe, the lychee has a sweet taste mixed with a little sourness, and after eating it has a characteristic slightly astringent aftertaste. Compared to Thanh Ha lychee, the sweetness and aroma of the hybrid lychee are less intense, but in return, the balanced sweet and sour taste creates a pleasant, refreshing feeling. The fruit flesh is not too crispy but still firm and delicious, suitable for those who like lychee flavor that is not too sweet.
• Use & storage: The outstanding advantage of hybrid lychee is that it can be kept fresh for 1-2 days longer than other varieties thanks to its thick protective shell. Therefore, this lychee variety is very convenient for long-distance transportation and export (for example, exporting by sea to other countries). Businesses can pack iced styrofoam boxes or refrigerate this type of lychee to keep it fresh during circulation. Consumers can eat it fresh or process it: hybrid lychee with a harmonious sweet and sour taste is suitable for making juice, lychee tea or drying it to make jam. When storing at home, the lychee should be kept in a cool place or in the refrigerator to keep it fresh longer.

Thanh Ha Litchi (Main Season)

• Identifying characteristics: Thanh Ha litchi is a main season specialty variety, famous throughout the country. The litchi is the smallest in size among the current litchi varieties, each fruit is only the size of a thumb. The fruit peel is very thin and quite smooth (spiky), when ripe it turns a characteristic light pink color. The litchi pulp is thick, clear white and juicy; the seeds are very small - many fruits are almost flat. The fruit flesh ratio reaches ~80% of the mass, which is the highest among litchi varieties.
• Flavor: Thanh Ha litchi is considered the most delicious thanks to its strong aroma and characteristic rich sweetness. When eaten, the litchi flesh is crispy and juicy, exuding a fragrant aroma; the taste is sweet but still cool on the tip of the tongue, the sweet and lingering aftertaste. Many people comment that Thanh Ha litchi has a very unique "blended" sweetness that is difficult to compare with other litchi varieties, the more you eat, the more "addictive" it is.
• Use & preservation: Thanh Ha lychee is mainly consumed fresh due to its premium quality. Consumers should enjoy lychee right after picking or chill it slightly before eating to fully experience the crispness, sweetness and aroma. This type of lychee is also popular for making lychee tea, canned lychee juice, syrup or dried (long lychee) - thanks to its thick, sweet pulp, the processed product is very rich. To preserve fresh lychee, businesses often apply a deep freezing process (kept at 0–4°C, humidity ~90%) immediately after harvest and transport by air to preserve the skin color and fruit quality. Under good storage conditions, fresh lychee can retain its deliciousness for about 2 weeks. This is a lychee variety that has been successfully exported to many demanding markets (Japan, USA, EU, Australia, etc.), affirming the "Thanh Ha lychee" brand in the international market.

Reference source: In the 2023-2024 crop season, Thanh Ha has 5 main lychee varieties (White Egg, Gai Egg, Pink U, Hybrid Tau, Thieu) grown and assigned growing area codes for export. Information on characteristics and flavors of lychee varieties is based on a synthesis of reputable press and agricultural research sources. Suggested preservation instructions are based on general recommendations for handling and transporting fresh lychees for export. Price information is compiled from news sites, online retail sites and reputable import-export business sources in the Czech Republic and Vietnam. Prices may vary depending on the time and place of sale. For example, Vietnamese lychees can cost up to 25 EUR/kg in European supermarkets, while lychees at local wholesale markets may be cheaper. Consumers are advised to check product labels to know the origin of the fabric and consult prices in many places to make the right choice. VOV, VTC News, Hai Duong Newspaper, VIR, VOV World, Ministry of Industry and Trade.