Did you know the lychee is considered the ‘Queen of Fruits?’

Well, this queen definitely deserves her crown!

Just like a wise and powerful ruler, Lychee is brimming with antioxidants and nutrients that work wonders for our bodies. This fabulous fruit is a must-have addition to your kitchen, from boosting digestion and immunity to keeping blood pressure in check and providing anti-cancerous antioxidants.

Jump to:

• Origins
• Ingredients
• Tips
• How to Make Lychee Slush:
• Equipment
• Serving Suggestions
• Substitutions
• FAQ
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Origins

Hailing from the beautiful region of Southern China, the lychee grows on an evergreen tree, which flourishes in subtropical climates. These trees are a sight to behold, with their thick, lush, green foliage.

Don't let the lychee's spiky pink exterior fool you - beneath that tough armor is a heavenly blend of sweetness, acidity, and delicate floral notes. And just like a queen's gown, the outer shell can vary from vibrant pink to a gentle brown. Although the shell and seed aren't edible, removing them is a breeze - give the shell a little pinch, and voilà, you've got a tender, juicy morsel of lychee goodness!

This floral fruit is the inspiration and main ingredient in many desserts and cocktails. Familiar to most might be a lychee martini or lychee sorbet. 

Ingredients

• Simple syrup: Simple syrup is quite simple (the name says it all!). Combine equal parts boiling water and sugar and stir until clear. That’s it! You can also purchase pre-made simple syrup from the store, but this is a much less expensive option if you already have white sugar and hot water at home.
• Lemon and lime juice: Not only will juicing lemons and limes lead to the freshest lychee slush, but it will also remind you how easy it is to use the freshest ingredients in your next cocktail. This recipe only requires a little bit of juice, therefore buying a ½ gallon or whole gallon of lemon or lime juice doesn’t make the most sense. You only need 3-4 lemons or limes to make enough for 2 people. If it’s just for one, 1-2 is perfect!
• Lychee: The star of the recipe! There are lychee syrups pre-made in a bottle (similar to simple syrup) with added sugar and flavoring, canned lychees that sit in a liquid, and fresh lychees right off the tree. If you use fresh lychees, you will need to use more because they don’t include any of the juice that will add flavor and volume. Most likely 6-8 lychees, if not more. Look around your local grocery store, see what is available, and start with that. At the end of the day, as long as you enjoy the taste, that’s all that matters. 
• Blender: Don't worry if you don't have a blender handy – there's a workaround for you! You can still make an amazing Lychee Slush (minus the slush part) by adding all the ingredients into a shaker tin and shaking it until the tin is ice cold. Strain and serve over fresh ice, and voila! You'll still get to savor those heavenly floral aromatics from the lychees and the tangy goodness from the lemons and limes.

Tips

This lychee slush recipe is very, and I mean VERY, difficult to mess up. It can easily be tailored to your taste preferences. For example:

• If you prefer a sweeter slush - Increase the amount of simple syrup to increase the sweetest or add extra lychee juice for a sweeter, stronger lychee flavor
• If you prefer a more sour slush - Decrease the amount of simple syrup and increase the lime and lemon to make a sour slush
• If you prefer it on the rocks - instead of blending, add all the ingredients into a shaker tin, shake, then strain over fresh ice

Play with the flavors to find the perfect balance that is right for you.

How to Make Lychee Slush:

This recipe is super simple. Combine the simple syrup, lemon juice, lime juice, lychee syrup, lychees, and ice in a blender and blend until it turns into a slush. 

You can go about this recipe in many ways, from using the freshest ingredients to buying store-bought juices and syrups. Regardless of your direction, this drink is a perfectly balanced, sweet, and sour slush that will quench your thirst on the hottest days. 

Equipment

To achieve the perfect “slush” consistency, a blender is needed. It can be a single-serving blender like a Nutribullet single-serve or a larger Vitamix blender. It is not necessary to go out and buy a new blender. The consistency will come from the amount of ice used and not the size or shape of your blender. 

I recommend a hand juicer for the freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice. They are easy to clean and drain that lemon or lime of its juice. Although no hate for those who juice with their hands, make sure to pick out any seeds that may fall into the blender before mixing them. 

Serving Suggestions

While this recipe is alcohol-free, it can be adapted to please any crowd. A few different cocktail ideas are:

• Add tequila for a frozen lychee margarita with a tahin rim 
• A vodka slush topped with a cherry and an umbrella perfect for day drinking by the pool
• Stir in some gin and top with tonic for a frozen play on a gin and tonic

Serve with other acidic fruits. Lychee is best complemented by similar fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, pineapple, passionfruit, and mango. Create a fruit platter for your guests to add to their lychee slush. 

Substitutions

• Use lemon or lime juice. This recipe calls for lemon and lime juice. However, if you only have one type of citrus in your kitchen, double up on one.  
• Lychee liquor. Instead of lychee syrup, you can use lychee liqueur. However, lychee liquor is alcoholic and will add a kick to your lychee slush. 
• Fresh lychees are best, but canned lychees or lychee syrup are alternatives to include in this recipe. 
• Use sour mix instead of simple syrup, lemon, and lime juice. Pre-made sour mix is traditionally made with lemon, lime, sugar, and sometimes orange juice. This is a quick substitute for fresh ingredients. 
• Premade simple syrup. Instead of making a simple syrup from scratch by combining equal parts hot water and sugar, buy it from the store. You can find pre-made simple syrup in any liquor or grocery store, typically in the beverage aisle. 

FAQ

What does lychee slush taste like?

Imagine sipping a chilled, sweet and tangy drink with the fun texture of a snow cone, but the most refreshing, floral flavors. Pure bliss!

Is lychee a nut or a fruit?

Lychee is categorized as a fruit. Although it grows on trees and has a hard shell with a seed inside, it is still considered a fruit rather than a nut.

 What can I do with fresh lychees?

Honestly, the best way is to enjoy their natural sweetness! Eat them solo, add them to this dreamy lychee slush, or toss them into a bright fruit salad. Just be sure they are ripe before cracking open those shells and indulging.

This recipe is the perfect way to elevate and respect lychee for its powerful fruit. While still sweet and floral, the Lychee Slush packs a punch with its tartness and acidity. Blend this up at your next pool party or barbecue with friends and family, and show them how you take this crazy-looking fruit and turn it into a refreshing beverage. 

📖 Recipe