A VARIETY of litchi fruit weighing more than 100 grams has been popular with Shenzhen residents despite the high price of 28 yuan (US$7) each.
The litchi fruit, grown on Guangming Farm orchard in Xili Subdistrict, is more than twice the size of regular litchis, about the size of a goose egg, the Daily Sunshine said Thursday.
The average weight of this variety is around 60 to 70 grams with the largest weighing more than 100 grams. “The flesh is yellowish, instead of white as in other litchis. It is also juicier and sweeter than the regular ones,” the Daily reported quoting an unnamed farmer at the orchard.
People visiting the orchard said they had seen many types of litchi but never a variety so big.
The unusually large litchis are also being sold at an unusually high price, about 20 times more expensive than regular litchis. However, it sold out quickly because there was only a small supply this year because of bad weather in the past few months. The annual harvest of this king-sized litchi produces about 6,000.
“It is a very rare species in China,” an orchard employee said.
“The litchis are ripe every July but they last only a few days. They have been very popular in the market. Many customers buy the litchis as gifts for friends and relatives,” said the employee.
Only 15 trees of this species have been grown on Guangming Farm orchard for the past 20 years. Originating in Hainan Province, the trees have very low survival rate, and each tree is able to produce only around 20 to 30 kg of litchis a year, according to the report.
(Cai Yingbo)