Lychee trees have been cultivated in southern China for over 2,000 years and are prized for their beautiful clusters of red, textured fruit. Beneath the thin, leathery skin lies sweet, translucent flesh with a distinctive floral flavor often compared to a blend of grapes and roses. Closely related to longans, lychees are evergreen tropical trees that benefit from cooler, relatively dry winters to encourage flowering. Different lychee varieties offer fascinating differences in fruit size, sweetness, seed size, and harvest season.