The most expensive type of lychee in the world, once sold 1 lychee for 1.8 billion VND

One of the most expensive fruits in the world is Gia Luc lychee, a specialty from southern China. They are usually sold by the fruit, not by the usual kilogram. In 2002, a 14g Gia Luc lychee was sold at auction for a record price of 550,000 yuan (about 1.8 billion VND at that time).

The most expensive type of lychee in the world, once sold 1 lychee for 1.8 billion VND Picture 1

This fabric is so expensive because it is picked from a rare mother tree called Xiyuangualu, estimated to be more than 400 years old.

Gia Luc lychee is grown only in Zengcheng, a district of Guangzhou city, in Guangdong province, China. This fruit is likened to the "treasure" of Tang Thanh.

The distinguishing point of this rare lychee is that the skin has 2 red - green colors in a ratio of 6:4, and there is a green line in the middle of the lychee body. When eaten, Gia Luc lychee is very succulent, the flesh is crispy, the taste is sweet and the seeds are very small.

The most expensive type of lychee in the world, once sold 1 lychee for 1.8 billion VND Picture 2

Gia Luc fabric, despite its expensive price, still has no shortage of buyers. At a showcase event taking place in Beijing in 2022, all Gia Luc lychees were sold out within 2 days.

Gia Luc lychees must be harvested almost immediately at maturity, so delivery times are almost unpredictable. Litchi usually ripen at the end of June and by the end of July there will be no supply. Even people in Tangcheng are not sure to taste this rare and expensive fabric.

The production of lychee "heirloom" has only reached a few dozen lychees per year, for the past 400 years.

Lesley Montoya

Update 24 July 2023