Thai name: Lin-chi
Season: April to June
There was a time when this famous delicacy was mostly imported from China and thus sold at very high prices. Today, however, many litchi orchards have been established in northern Thailand and local prices, while still above those of most other fruits, are not exorbitant. Several varieties of the fruit characterized by a sweet taste with a faint trace of tartness are currently grown, ranging from pinkish to dark red in color. Litchis come on the market fresh between April and June but are always available in cans.
Phuket provincial population in preliminary count of 2010 census was counted to be 525,018 people, including some 115,881 foreigners, or 21.1% of the population. However, it is admitted this is inaccurate since The Phuket Provincial Employment Office currently records for more than 64,000 Burmese, Lao and Cambodian workers legally residing on the island. Final figures are to be released later in 2011.