Why are lychees soaked in water after being picked?

Why are lychees soaked in water after being picked  

Source: People's Daily Online | May 28, 2026, 18:45  

In mid-to-late May, lychees hit the market in large quantities. Videos showing lychees being soaked in water have drawn attention online, with some netizens speculating that they are being "soaked in chemicals," raising concerns about food safety.  

In response, Wu Zhenxian, an expert from the National Lychee and Longan Industry Technology System and a professor at the College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, told reporters: soaking lychees in water has nothing to do with chemicals but is a conventional physical pre-cooling and preservation method after they are picked from the tree.  

Sweet and delicious, lychees are highly perishable, and preservation has been a challenge since ancient times. The film and television work *Lychees of Chang'an* vividly depicted their characteristics after being picked: "color changes in one day, fragrance fades in two days, and flavor alters in three days."Why are lychees soaked in water after being picked  

Source: People's Daily Online | May 28, 2026, 18:45  

In mid-to-late May, lychees hit the market in large quantities. Videos showing lychees being soaked in water have drawn attention online, with some netizens speculating that they are being "soaked in chemicals," raising concerns about food safety.  

In response, Wu Zhenxian, an expert from the National Lychee and Longan Industry Technology System and a professor at the College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, told reporters: soaking lychees in water has nothing to do with chemicals but is a conventional physical pre-cooling and preservation method after they are picked from the tree.  

Sweet and delicious, lychees are highly perishable, and preservation has been a challenge since ancient times. The film and television work *Lychees of Chang'an* vividly depicted their characteristics after being picked: "color changes in one day, fragrance fades in two days, and flavor alters in three days."