Lychee prep tips

[Kiana]

It's lychee season and we have an abundance. Any good tips for recipes or best ways to open and eat? We eat the fruit nibbling around the seed, but when I try to harvest the fruit without seed to put in a salad or yogurt etc., I can't seem to totally free the fruit from part of the bitter seed pith. There seems to always be a bit attached and that kind of ruins it for me. I'm thinking there must be a better technique, any ideas?

[Guest]

Good news about your lychee abundance. Try canning, jarring, and freezing them for later consumption. A frozen lychee is great for young keiki teething we have learned. No real secrets I have learned to pitting them before canning out side of cutting them out from the bottom tediously. Cutting back the lychee branches 6-8 inches after harvest usually promotes next seasons growth quicker. The peels, seeds, and rotten lychee make great composts for other garden beds as well.