Glossary of food terms: L

Lychee

A fruit that originated in China and is now grown in the Far East and the West Indies. It's about the size of a small plum and has a thin, hard, rough shell that comes off easily. The white, juicy flesh has a similar texture to grapes but is more chewy, with a delicate scent. There is a large dark brown stone in the centre.

In Europe, fresh lychees are available from November to January, but they're most often sold tinned, preserved in sugar syrup.

• Mussels with lychee and coconut
• Lychee tempura with honey
• Halibut with lychee, cashew nut and miso salad