Mauritius Lychee

Lychee has been cultivated in southern China for over two thousand years, with historical records describing it as a prized delicacy in the imperial court — the Tang dynasty concubine Yang Guifei was famously said to have fresh lychees delivered by fast horse relay from thousands of miles south specifically to satisfy her craving for the fruit, a story still commonly retold in Chinese culture today. Mauritius, introduced to Florida from South Africa in 1952, remains the primary commercial variety grown in the state.