As China transitions into summer, Mexico embraces the rainy season. During sunny intervals, lychees, imported from China, liven up Mexican streets. Contrary to visitors’ expectations, lychees have long-standing roots in Mexico, tracing back over a century.

In the late 19th century, Chinese workers migrated to Mexico, establishing roots in Sinaloa. It is said that the seeds of the first lychee trees, cultivated by these migrants, were presented to Sinaloa’s governor. Commercial cultivation, however, did not begin until the 1970s. Since then, lychees have become an integral part of Mexican life. As Liliana, a Mexican engineer, recalls, “They’ve always been a special treat in our home” annually during her upbringing.

Currently, Mexico’s lychee industry spans 13 states, including Veracruz, Puebla, and Oaxaca, with over 26,000 tons produced in 2023. Most of this is destined for the North American market.

In the U.S., lychees are highly sought after, commanding premium prices despite variations in sweetness. An online reviewer notes, “Not as sweet as last year’s, but still the best I can find in the U.S. market.” The short season, just weeks long, amplifies their desirability.

The lychee’s journey in Mexico reflects broader migration stories: cultural roots transplanted across oceans. In locations like Los Angeles and Merida, lychees offer both exotic allure and familiar comfort.

Zhang Tieliu of the Chinese American Business Association expresses nostalgia, stating, “I was born and raised in Guangzhou, capital of China’s Guangdong Province.” A longing for the taste of lychees persists among Chinese communities in North America, with Zhang emphasizing the sentiment, “that taste of home is something we truly miss.”

Technological advancements contributed to fulfilling the dream of exporting lychees worldwide. Zhang notes that “breakthroughs in preservation and logistics by Chinese companies and universities” have made Guangdong lychees accessible in North America.

Cold-chain advancements have expanded the lychee’s reach. Freshness-preserving methodologies underpin the trade’s growth, enabling lychees from Maoming City, Guangdong Province, to reach global markets, including the Middle East and Europe, in just three days.

Despite differences from the original fruit, spotting lychees in Mexican stores symbolizes a cultural connection. Lychees thrive far from their origins, forging an ongoing cultural bridge between continents.

Latin America values lychees as a luxury, referred to as “chirimoya china” in Panama, and Brazil actively increases its cultivation.

Source: Xinhua