New preservative for fresh lychee ( 2003-08-12 10:56) (China Daily)
Thanks to a newly developed fruit preservation technology, the just-picked
flavour of harvested lychees will now last for up to 30 days, reports Guangzhou
Daily.
According to tests conducted by the Guangdong Provincial Agricultural
Research Institute, lychees sprayed with a substance called "JBC" remain tasty
for a full month after being picked.
In contrast, a batch of lychees treated with the current preservation method
retain their full flavour for just 20 days.
JBC coats the fruit with an antiseptic film composed of a kind of lactic acid
bacteria, which is harmless to humans, according to the newspaper.
Previous difficulties in preserving lychees have hampered sales of the
delicious fruit outside Guangdong, but it is hoped that the new preservation
method will deliver a much-needed shot in the arm for lychee
farmers.
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