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This easy iced lychee drink is made with sweet canned lychees and crisp, fresh lime juice mixed right in a large pitcher. It takes less than 5 minutes to mix up, giving you a deeply refreshing, ice-cold drink that perfectly balances sweet and tart.
Recipe Summary
- 🔪 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 👨🍳 Cook Time: 0 minutes
- ⏱️ Total Time: 5 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 4 people
- 🏷️ Calories: ~152 calories
- 🍳 Cook Method: Mix
- ✨ Flavor Profile: Sweet, floral lychee paired with a sharp, crisp lime punch
- 🧩 Difficulty: Very easy (Perfect for a quick and deeply refreshing ice-cold drink)
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Lychee Drink Recipe
This is my absolute favorite lychee drink recipe to whip up because it completely changes how you use canned fruit. It is a total staple in my house because you get that intense, deeply fragrant lychee flavor right upfront, balanced by a sharp kick of fresh lime juice that keeps it from being way too sweet.
The secret to getting this recipe right is letting the fresh lime juice do the heavy lifting against the rich syrup from the can. Limes have a clean, punchy acidity that cuts through that heavy sweetness instantly, turning a basic pantry staple into a crisp, light beverage. It takes less than five minutes to throw together in a pitcher, so it is perfect for backyard barbecues, casual dinners, or just keeping a batch in the fridge for a warm afternoon.
Make sure to whip up a batch before summer ends, and don’t let your upcoming Labor Day weekend cookout pass without this refreshing drink on the menu. You can easily booze it up by following the pro tip below to make it alcoholic!
Shopping Guide: Canned Lychee
- Go For Whole Fruit In Syrup: Check the label to make sure you are getting whole peeled lychees instead of broken pieces. The syrup does a much better job of locking in that deep, floral flavor than just plain water.
- Check The Expiry Date: Canned lychees can lose their crunch if they sit on a shelf for too long. Check the date and grab a can with plenty of time left so the fruit stays nice and firm.
- Skip The Added Flavorings: Take a quick look at the ingredient list, it really should just be lychees, water, sugar, and citric acid. Steer clear of any brands adding artificial rosewater or extra preservatives, since they completely ruin the natural taste.
- Reliable Brands To Keep An Eye Out For: If you are shopping locally, Hosen and AAA Brand are super easy to find and always reliable. If you are looking for them overseas, keep an eye out for global brands like Aroy-D or Chaokoh at the Asian grocer.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Lychee
- Sugar
- Lime juice
- Lime
See the recipe card below for all the ingredient details and exact measurements.
Pro Tip #1: Why You Still Need Sugar
Even though the lychee syrup is already sweet, adding a bit of granulated sugar is key because the syrup alone cannot completely balance out the sharp, sour lime juice. The sugar rounds out the edges of the citrus so the drink tastes smooth rather than harshly tart.
Pro Tip #2: Stick To Fresh Limes
Bottled lime juice has a weird, artificial aftertaste that ruins the fresh flavor. Squeezing actual limes gives you that bright, clean citrus hit that cuts right through the sweet syrup.
Optional: Add Fresh Mint
You can slap a small handful of fresh mint leaves between your hands to release the oils and toss them into the pitcher right before serving. It adds a cool, refreshing scent the second you sit down to drink it.
Optional: Lychee Martini Version
You can turn this pitcher into a batch of lychee martinis by adding 1 cup of vodka or gin. Just pour the alcohol in before you add the ice so the flavors blend evenly.
How To Make Iced Lychee
Pour the canned lychees and all of that sweet syrup straight into your pitcher. Don’t drain the fruit, because the syrup holds all that deep flavor you need for the base.
Pour in the water, fresh lime juice, lime slices, and granulated sugar. Give everything a good, thorough stir until you can’t see the sugar grains at the bottom anymore.
Pro Tip: Use room temperature water here. Cold water makes sugar take forever to melt, but room temperature water dissolves it quickly.
Toss in the ice cubes and give it one final stir to chill everything down. Pour it into glasses and it is ready to serve.
Pro Tip: Avoid adding the ice too early if you are making this ahead of time. Keep the pitcher in the fridge and only add ice right before serving so the drink does not get watered down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but you will have to peel and pit the fruit, then simmer sugar and water to make a simple syrup. Canned lychees save you that extra prep and actually have a more concentrated flavor.
Yes. Swap out the plain water for sparkling water or club soda. Just add the carbonated water right before serving so the drink stays bubbly.
I don’t recommend it. They ruin the color and completely overpower the delicate fruit. White granulated sugar keeps the drink clean and lets the lychee flavor stand out.
Simply double or triple the ingredients using the same ratios. Mix everything in a large dispenser ahead of time, but leave the ice out so guests can add it to their own glasses.
It stays fresh for up to 2 days. Just strain out the ice and lime slices before storing so the drink doesn’t get watered down or turn bitter from the lime peels.
This recipe is 152 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
For an easy and wholesome summer weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes:
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Other Drink Recipes You Might Like
Iced Lychee
Ingredients
- 1 can lychee in syrup, 565g/20oz
- 2 cups water
- 4 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
- 2 lime, cut into slices
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 cups ice
Instructions
- In a pitcher, add the lychee along with its syrup.
- Add water, sugar, lime slices, and lime juice. Stir well until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Add ice and give everything a good stir. Serve chilled in glasses.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
