Patna: If summer's torment is here, so are its delights; pinkish-red litchis have arrived in the city's fruit market, including the most famous litchi variety, Shahi.

After the initial checks - " mitha hai ya khatta (is it sweet or sour)?" - many customers, however, felt the rates were quite high. "The rates are currently high, between Rs 120 and Rs 160 per kg," said Saifi Khan, a fruit-seller at Income Tax roundabout. "But the rates will come down next month when they arrive in large quantities in the markets."

As any self-respecting litchi lover knows, Shahi litchis from Muzaffarpur and Vaishali districts - around 70km and 26km north of Patna, respectively - are the first choice of buyers thanks to their aroma and sweet taste. Shahi litchis from Naugachhia in Bhagalpur in east Bihar, around 187km from Patna, have also arrived in the market. Some varieties from Bengal are also competing for attention.

"Those looking for litchis at cheaper rates prefer to buy varieties from Bengal, which are sold at Rs 100-120," said Santosh Gupta, who sells fruits at a stall adjacent to Saifi's shop.

Shyam Sundar of Raja Baazar said: "I belong to Muzaffarpur district, which is famous for litchi production. The aroma can be smelt from a distance. The sweet smell floods me with memories of lazy summer days of my childhood, when the entire afternoon was dedicated to litchi feast."

Bihar leads the country in litchi production. The fruit is also cultivated in East Champaran, Madhubani and Begusarai districts.

Vishal Nath, the director of National Research Centre of Litchi, said: "The weather was favourable and we hope for a good litchi production in Bihar this year."

He added that the state's total litchi production in 2018 was likely to touch 3 lakh tonnes, up from 2.45 lakh tonnes in 2017.

"The country produces 6 lakh tonnes of litchis every year of which Bihar, especially Muzaffarpur district, contributes half," Vishal said.