When and where are lychees found?
- Nikhil Singh
- Apr 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 16
Not many know about litchis; some have not even tasted them. As a matter of fact, there are a few people from Bihar (where the maximum number of litchis are found in India) who also wouldn't know about the timing and the different varieties.
Now this blog here isn't a very well-researched one; rather, I am trying to generalize it to give an overview of the fruit—litchi, which has also been termed "the queen of fruits."
About its availability first:
Litchis in India are first available in Malda, Bengal, in the first 10–15 days of May, then move west to Bihar with two varieties from about May 15 to June 15, moving northeast from there to Uttarakhand, then to Punjab and Pathankot, and further east to China, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Different data have suggested that Bihar grows about 45% to 75% of the litchis found in India. There are about 7 varieties found, but I know the names of 3—Shahi, China, and Bedana (seedless).
Shahi litchis are available from May 15 to May 30. Like a queen, they are very sensitive and delicate, while the 2nd major variety in Bihar will be available in the next 15 days. The latter litchi is referred to as the China variety, which is characterized by its larger size, higher water content, and increased robustness.
Shahi Litchis are GI-tagged to Muzaffarpur, Bihar, and are known for their exceptional aroma, rich flavor, and slightly smaller seeds.
Litchis have a life of 3 days maximum when kept without any treatment. In India, the litchis found between 15 May and 10 June are from Bihar. During those months of extreme heat, and given the shelf life of litchis, only 30% must be worth eating. Even if the litchis here are bought for Rs. 100, by the time they reach other places, the prices would easily be above Rs. 300, and then there is freight, trade margins, packaging, warehousing, etc., which would further add to the price.
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