Lychee Martini Recipe

This simple and delicious Lychee Martini recipe is the perfect twist on the classic martini. By adding the exotic sweet tropical fruit of lychee, you will be transported to your favourite summer holiday destination.

Lychee is a tropical fruit with a reddish pink exterior and a juicy jelly-like flesh. Although native to Southeast Asia, lychee fruit is being grown in warmer regions outside of Asia. The flesh is fragrant and sweet, similar to rambutan and longan, and is used for desserts, smoothies, or eaten by itself. 

Lychee Martini is known as a ‘lycheetini’ or ‘litchitini’ and makes a sweet and sophisticated cocktail. As there are only two ingredients in this Lychee Martini recipe, lychee and vodka, it is simple and quick to prepare. A floral sipper best served ice cold.

Lychee Juice, Syrup, or Liqueur?

Which works best? It depends on your preferences. For this recipe, you can use a store-bought or homemade lychee juice. Moreover, syrup from canned lychee fruit can also work. Making your homemade lychee juice is the best choice. 

Making homemade lychee juice is easy. Add half a cup of water and 20 fresh pitted lychees to a blender. Keep blending till the mix is smooth and run it through a strainer so that all the pulp is removed. Then add three tablespoons of sugar syrup to the juice and stir. 

Lychee liqueur can be found and will add extra alcohol to your martini.

How to Make Lychee Martini

This Lychee Martini recipe is a tropical and sweet twist on the classical martini. With simple ingredients, this cocktail can be prepared in a matter of minutes and at any time of the year. Just close your eyes, sip and let your imagination transport you to a tropical paradise. 

So how is it prepared?

• Take a cocktail shaker and fill it halfway with ice.
• Add six oz. of lychee syrup, or lychee juice (which can be prepared at home or store-bought).
• If you prefer a strong drink, then you can prepare your drink with lychee liqueur.
• Pour four oz. vodka to the mix
• A splash of vermouth is optional
• Then you should fill your martini glass with ice. 
• Take out all of the ice before filling your glass with this delicious drink. It will ensure that the glass and the drink stay cold for longer. 
• Shake strongly for approximately 20 seconds, then pour into martini glasses.
• Even though you can use your favourite garnishes, this lychee martini recipe is best garnished with lychee fruit. 
• Serve immediately 

Variations

There are a few variations for this Lychee Martini recipe:

• Lychee-Flavoured Vodka: Numerous brands produce lychee-flavoured vodka, which can be used to make a Lychee Martini. Kai Vodka is a famous brand that offers delicious lychee vodka. To make this variation, you will need to pour two ounces of flavoured vodka, ¼ ounce of lime juice, and ¾ ounce of sugar syrup. Shake in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and adjust to your tastes. 
• Add Juices: For another twist, add other fruit such as cranberry, longan, or peach juice.
• Garnish: Varying garnishes can also do the trick. Adding mint, fresh lychees, or other fruits.
• Different Strengths: Depending on how strong you like your martini, you can alter this Lychee Martini recipe. You can use a lychee syrup, juice, or lychee liqueur. Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, and Midori are fine liqueur options.   

Lychee Martini Food Pairings

This fruity, sweet and floral cocktail easily pairs with many spicy and salty foods. Try some of the following: 

• Freshly shucked oysters, or oysters Kilpatrick with an extra dash of hot sauce. 
• A bowl of salt and pepper calamari
• A plate of mixed sushi, with a good quality wasabi
• Roasted chickpeas dusted in cumin and chili powder
• Dried or unripe fruit dipped in Muối Ớt, a Vietnamese-style chili salt  

Tips To Make Lychee Martini

Lychee is an imperative ingredient and will make or break your drink. If you are looking for tips to make sure you have a delicious drink, then read on!

• Use the highest quality vodka:  is accessible in many flavours and comes in diverse qualities. Even though high-quality vodka will be expensive but it will be worth it. For this Lychee Martini recipe, you can also use sake, champagne, and soju instead of vodka. 
• Martini Presentation: looking for a visually appealing drink? You can add some colour to your martini by mixing a drop of cranberry or artificial pomegranate juice. This way the lychee martini will look like actual ripe fruit. You can also add a mint leaf to represent lychee trees. 
• Use high-quality lychee flavour: an important part of this Lychee Martini recipe is the fresh lychee fruit’s sweet flavour and fragrance. Get an authentic lychee flavouring so that the drink tastes better and takes you to a tropical place while sipping it. Lychee syrup is the best option for flavouring. Syrup from canned lychees should be the last option. 
• Garnish: A typical martini is garnished with an olive, but this Lychee Martini recipe is best garnished with 1 or 2 peeled lychees. If you are unable to get fresh lychees, then an alternative is frozen lychees. Canned lychee for the garnish will work great if you do not have fresh ones available. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need fresh fruit for lychee cocktails?

Although fresh lychees are the preferred option you can make a lychee martini recipe using canned options. Lychees don’t grow in all areas, so if you don’t live in a place where you can find fresh options check specialty markets or grocery stores for canned versions. 

Is Lychee Martini strong?

This Lychee Martini recipe has a mildly sweet flavour that perfectly pairs with spicy foods. It balances Asian flavours without having an overpowering flavour. Moreover, it complements and cools the food.