Monday, June 07, 2010

TasteSpotting

IMG_8749I picked these luscious litchis from Chinatown today. These are undoubtedly the most juicy and pulpy litchis I have ever had. And believe me, I have had some good litchis growing up in Bihar – the land of litchis. IMG_8750 The sign of good litchis are its dark red color. They usually are smooth and have rounded bumps on the rind. Their ripeness indicates that they are full of nectar!IMG_8758 The best litchis have the smallest seeds/pits. The pits are smooth-skinned and dark brown-black in color. IMG_8756 My summer vacation memories growing up are of peeling chilled litchis and popping them in one by one, savoring the delightful burst of juices in my mouth.

Did you know that the Chinese, have historically eaten litchis to relieve pain, to cure sore throats and coughs, to aid in digestion, to shrink swollen glands, and to enhance overall health and longevity! IMG_8754 IMG_8757 Are they not real pearls of pulp? They also are a great source of Vitamin C.IMG_8753 And a certain someone in faraway Canada also uses the little litchi branches to display her new silver jhumka earrings which have been sent by her Mommy-in-law all the way from India. IMG_8760 IMG_8762

8 comments:

Sharmila said...

Lovely snaps Pree! Ebaarer summer e ami lichi khetei parlam na. Mone hocche ekta tule top kore mukhe pure dei. :-)

Piper .. said...

:):) beautiful pictures! I`m longing to have some of those litchis too!

Anonymous said...

How pretty are those earrings!!

Pree, I wanted to ask you. I've never had a lychee because they always looked like they would be a little mushy.

How would you describe the texture?

PreeOccupied said...

@Jerseycook, now thats a really tough one. But I will try.

Closing my eyes to think: its something from another world. Fleshy and sweet when you pop them open from their thorny rinds. Full of nectar when eaten fresh. Choose litchis which are ripe-red in color. Its best to peel and eat. Keeping in the fridge or delaying eating oxidizes them.

If you pick the right litchis, they are not mushy. Its firm and fleshy and I would say comes close to a grape-like texture but with much more texture. Try it and I am sure you will love it.

Anonymous said...

hey its seems pretty stupid that I want to know from where your mother in law got these earrings in India, actually I am from India & I am looking for these types of jhumka earrings for a long time but unfortunately didn't found the right one, please help me out, I know this is really really stupid but I love these jhumka earrings...

PreeOccupied said...

Anonymous, Try Cottage Emporium, New Delhi. (Near Janpath).

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I was searching for silver jhumkas and came across your blog. I love these jhumkas!! Can you please check with your friend from where did her MIL get these. I really really want them.please help! My cousin went to the cottage emporium but couldn't find these or sth similar. Cheers!

Mou Das said...

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