The Ultimate Summer Fruit: Taste the Difference with Our Premium Dragon Eye Lychees

Mention the popular fruits of summer, and lychee is undoubtedly one of the favorites among many Vietnamese families. This unique fruit has a bright red shell and comes in various shapes, from round to heart-shaped or even oval. Ripe lychees are sweet and delicious, while unripe ones have green skin and taste slightly sour.

Typically, the size of an average lychee is about two fingers wide. However, recently, larger lychees have become a sought-after delicacy, with sizes comparable to that of an egg. Additionally, the price of these oversized lychees has also drawn attention.

According to traders and distributors, these large lychees are priced between 200,000 and 280,000 VND per kg ($8.5- $12). Due to their size, one kg usually contains only around 20 fruits, sometimes even less.

Traders also emphasize that this variety of lychee is rare due to its unique cultivation methods. As a result, not everyone who wants to buy them will find them readily available. Annually, the harvest season for these oversized lychees is limited to a one-month period, typically from mid-May to the end of June.

This particular variety of lychee is known as Lychee Egg – Hung Yen Specialty.

Lychee Egg – Hung Yen Specialty from the “Mother Lychee Tree”

According to Hung Yen Newspaper, Lychee Egg is predominantly grown in regions like Phu Cu and An Thi in Hung Yen Province. Among them, Phan Sao Nam commune in Phu Cu is considered the “capital” of Lychee Egg production. Currently, the commune has over 200 hectares of Lychee Egg plantations, with an estimated yield of over 200 tons this year. For the entire Phu Cu district, the area dedicated to growing this variety is approximately 350 hectares.

Phan Sao Nam commune is also home to the “Mother Lychee Tree” – believed to be the first Lychee Egg tree in Hung Yen. This tree is located in the garden of Mr. Nguyen Van Vi in Ba Dong village. According to Van Hoa Newspaper, the Mother Lychee Tree is estimated to be over 150 years old.

From this tree, Mr. Vi’s family has propagated over 30 new trees in their garden. Subsequently, the Lychee Egg variety was further propagated by the local community. Over the years, it has become a unique specialty of the region and the entire province of Hung Yen.

In 2020, Lychee Egg from Hung Yen received official recognition as a branded product by the National Office of Intellectual Property, and was ranked as a 4-star OCOP product by the Provincial People’s Committee. In 2022, for the first time, this specialty fruit from Hung Yen was exported to the European market.

Within Vietnam, Lychee Egg is highly sought-after during its short season by traders and wholesalers nationwide, who aim to meet the demands of their customers.

A Delicious and Fragrant Fruit That’s Always in High Demand

Aside from its larger size, Lychee Egg is characterized by its bright color, thin shell, thick aril, small seed, and sweet, fragrant taste. Many first-time tasters of this variety have been impressed by its superior flavor. “This is the first time I’ve tried Lychee Egg, and I’m amazed by how delicious it is. At first, I was only attracted by its large size, but when I peeled it, the lychee was still juicy and incredibly sweet and fragrant”, shared Ms. L.T.M. Phuong (33 years old, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi).

Due to its exceptional flavor and limited seasonal availability, Lychee Egg is highly sought-after by consumers. Sharing her experience on VNExpress, Ms. Hong, a fruit shop owner in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “Lychee Egg from the North is always in high demand and sells out quickly, despite its high price.”

“Lychee Egg is always in high demand, just like seedless lychees. Its season only lasts about a month. The flesh of this lychee is thick, fragrant, and sweet, with no worms at the tip. Last May, in just three days, my store sold 3-4 tons of Lychee Egg”, shared Mr. Hoa, a food store owner in Hanoi.

Producing high-quality Lychee Eggs that command prices two to three times higher than regular lychees requires a meticulous and labor-intensive process. Speaking to VTC News, Mr. Vu Hong Ngan, a Lychee Egg grower in Tho Lao village, Quang Hung commune, Phu Cu district, shared that Lychee Egg trees must be provided with sufficient nutrients and cared for following the VietGAP standards (Good Agricultural Practices issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and organic farming methods.

At harvest time, farmers must carefully inspect the quality of each lychee. “Each batch of Lychee Eggs for sale must meet the standards for fruit size and ripeness of at least 95%. If they do not meet these standards, they will not be harvested, even if a buyer wants to purchase them”, Mr. Ngan explained.

Today, the lychee gardens and farms in Phu Cu district, Hung Yen province, are not only places for visitors to buy lychees but also ideal eco-tourism destinations. Tourists can come here to harvest lychees themselves, visit the “Mother Lychee Tree,” and buy fresh lychees directly from the farmers to take home to their families.