Scented Teas

Lichee Black Tea (Lizhi Hongcha), Fruit-Flavored

A black tea treated with the juice of the lichee produces a delightful beverage. The fresh, juicy lichee is one of south China's famous fruits. For smoothness and color, and juiciness of lichees remind some Westerners of grapefruit, although the two fruits are not related. In the present Chinese spelling they are lizhi. (Alternative spellings seen in the West include litchee and lychee.) Guangdong province is a big producer of lichees and Lichee Black tea.

The Chinese people often recall a bit of their history in connection with lichees. They were a favorite of Lady Yang Yuhan, considered one beloved of Tang dynasty Emperor Xuan Zong (also known as Ming Huang, r. 712-756). By paying too much attention to her (She is also known as Yang Guifei, Honored Concubine Yang) and not enough to state affairs, he lost his throne.

He would do anything to make her happy. Lichees are an extremly perishable fruit, so the emperor arranged to have them brought to his capital Xi'an from the south by night and day relay riders. To this day the fruit is also known by the name Feizi Xiao (Feizi's Smile).

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