Unfamiliar Lychees

Over the years, I've had lychees on and off if I came across them during a trip to Chinatown, or if someone gave them to us (very nice of them). However, I'd only known of the red ones ("red robe" lychee) but apparently, there is also a white version (really more like a yellowish cream with a bit of blushing) called "glutinous rice ball" lychee or something like that. This is what I'm told, and it's rather a rough translation I believe. I found these white ones (in foreground) to be very similar but more flowery fragrant, yet not as sweet as the red ones (in background). Also, it was a bit bitter near the stem. The seeds are way smaller than the red lychees. Overall, it's a lighter/milder flavor than the red ones thus not as heavy in the "lychee" flavor I'm familiar with. Still good. Still lychee flavored. An interesting experience.

As a side note, beware of very red lychees that don't seem quite right either because they should be out of season or because they're just too red in a strange way. It's probably because they've been dyed! Just as salmon these days have color enhancers added, lychees are getting this treatment as well. =( How they can be allowed to deceive consumers with what amounts to the same idea as "snake oil" is beyond me.

Note: The picture's color is a bit off...