The Sweet Allure of Lychee Wood for Grilling in Singapore

The Unique Flavor of Lychee Wood for Grilling

Backyard cookouts and summertime grilling are popular activities that allow families and friends to gather outdoors and enjoy delicious grilled foods. While charcoal is the most common fuel source used for grilling, some grill masters like to use alternative woods such as mesquite, hickory, oak, and fruit woods like apple, cherry, pecan and lychee to infuse foods with distinct smoky flavors.

Lychee wood is an interesting choice for grilling and imparting a sweet, floral aroma and flavor into meats, fish and vegetables. This tropical hardwood is dense, burns evenly and has hints of rose and honey that get absorbed into barbecued foods.

What is Lychee Wood?

Lychee trees are native to regions of southern China but now grow across parts of Southeast Asia. Lychee is the name of the round, bumpy fruit that has a crispy juicy flesh and inedible shiny brown seed inside. Lychee wood comes from these evergreen trees that can grow over 40 feet tall.

The hardwood has a pinkish red tint when first cut and ages into a dark reddish brown color over time. Lychee wood contains oils that produce an unusually sweet and pleasant aroma when burned, making it an interesting smoking wood for grilling.

Lychee Wood Flavor Profile

Foods cooked over a lychee wood fire absorb a distinct honey-rose perfume flavor that is slightly sweet. The wood smoke imparts a gentle, smooth richness that enhances beef, pork, poultry, seafood and vegetables without overpowering their natural flavors.

Many specialty retailers sell lychee wood chunks and chips for smoking on any type of grill from gas to charcoal to electric. The light, fruity lychee smoke works well when blended with other fruit woods like apple and pecan or stronger hickory and mesquite.

Grilling with Lychee Wood in Singapore

While lychee wood may not be a traditional grilling fuel in Singapore, some hawker stalls are starting to take advantage of its unique properties. Jofa Grill in the Bukit Merah district uses a combination of lychee wood and charcoal to grill meats to perfection.

Patrons can watch as skewers of chicken, beef and lamb get cooked over the hot lychee wood coals. This imparts the meat with a slightly sweet, flowery flavor that perfectly complements Jofa Grill's signature chili dipping sauces.

Lychee wood coals burn consistently hot without producing excess smoke. This allows the meat to get beautifully seared and caramelized on the outside while staying nice and juicy inside. The fruitwood smoke provides just a hint of sweetness to balance out the savory spices and sauces.

How Lychee Wood Grilling Stacks Up

Here is how lychee wood grilling compares to using other wood types:

• More subtle smoke than hickory or mesquite
• More floral than oak or pecan
• More sweetness than cherry or apple woods
• Imparts a unique tropical fruit flavor not found with other woods

Many professional chefs and home grillers are starting to seek out alternative fruit woods like lychee to add signature flavors to their grilled creations. Foods infused with lychee smoke are sure to impress guests at your next cookout.

Where to Buy Lychee Wood for Grilling in Singapore

Lychee wood can be purchased from select specialty stores in Singapore that sell grilling supplies and smoker woods. Many also carry lychee wood chips and chunks for those using gas and electric smokers.

Retailers to check with include:

• American Grill
• Keng Seng Hardware
• Sin Lian Heng
• Teck Sing Hardware

You can also find lychee wood pellets online to use in pellet grills and smokers for the ultimate convenience in producing lychee smoke flavor.

Grilling Tips When Using Lychee Wood

Here are some helpful grilling tips to follow when using lychee wood as your fuel source:

Add Some Charcoal

While lychee wood produces plenty of heat for grilling, pairing it with charcoal helps generate extra cooking power. Use a base of glowing charcoal briquettes topped with lychee wood chunks or chips to barbecue foods.

Try Fruit Wood Blends

Mix lychee wood with other fruit woods like pear, cherry, apple or pecan to layer flavors from different woods into your barbecue. This allows you to enjoy hints of different natural sweet sugars and fruit essences.

Use a Smoker Box

A cast iron smoker box makes it easy to contain lychee wood over the fire on a gas or charcoal grill. Load wood chunks or chips inside and place it right over the heat to infuse foods with steady fruitwood smoke.

Soak First

Soak lychee wood chunks or chips in water for 30 minutes before grilling. This allows the inside of the wood to burn slowly to produce more clean smoke over time rather than burning up quickly.

Flip for Cross-Hatch Marks

Get those great looking barbecue sear marks on steaks, chops and burgers by flipping them twice at 45 degree angles. This cross-hatch char creates extra smoky, caramelized flavor from the lychee wood fire.

Now that you understand the sweet lychee wood grilling difference, give it a try on your grill or smoker at home in Singapore or stop by Jofa Grill to taste tender meats kissed with a touch of floral fruitwood smoke.

FAQs

What types of flavor does lychee wood add when grilling?

Lychee wood imparts a sweet, subtle, floral flavor that has hints of rose and honey. It adds a tropical fruitiness without overpowering the natural tastes of foods.

What are the best meats to cook over lychee wood?

Lychee wood pairs nicely with beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and fish. It also works well for grilling fruit and vegetable kebabs. The fruity smoke complements many savory foods.

Is lychee wood better than using charcoal alone?

Many grilling experts recommend using a combination of lychee wood chunks and charcoal briquettes. The charcoal provides intense heat while the wood infuses food with flavorful smoke.

Where can I buy lychee wood for grilling in Singapore?

Check specialty barbecue and hardware stores like American Grill, Keng Seng Hardware, Sin Lian Heng and Teck Sing Hardware. You can also purchase lychee wood chunks, chips and pellets online.