Melons are popular seasonal fruits enjoyed all over the world. Do you know that there are melons of not two or three, but more than thirty varieties? Of course, everyone knows watermelons and cantaloupes and many others are enjoyed in regions where they are grown. But to enjoy these exotic tastes you must find them out first. Here is a list of 10 types of melons in the world.
Types Of Melons In The World
1. Watermelon
Watermelons were originally domesticated in Egypt thousands of years ago. The striped green cover outside and bright red, sweet, and juicy color in the center is a refreshing treat in the summer heat when it’s recommended to eat. The largest producer of watermelons in the world is China now, producing about two-thirds of all the global production.
It’s scientifically called Citrullus lanatus and grows on a creeper, a plant that spreads on the ground. Studies tell us that watermelons are good for the heart and is rich in antioxidants and increase kidney health. In the heat of summer, a cold watermelon is a nice treat to rehydrate yourself.
2. Bitter Melon
Not all melons are sweet and juicy. Some are firm and well, bitter in taste. But if it’s bitter why eat it at all? Why not leave it in the wild? Because there are benefits of fruits other than just being sweet in taste. Bitter melon is a popular melon because it helps in diabetes and heart diseases. It has been consumed for good health for ages in countries like India and Southeast Asia where it was domesticated.
Sometimes it’s also called bitter gourd because of its long tube-like appearance. The outer surface has boils and veins-like patterns on it. It is eaten before ripening when it is soft and crunchy and green. After ripening it turns yellow or reddish and hardens. Bitter melon is also cooked as a vegetable and is a part of many cuisines in the region. Obviously, these people have found ways to remove its bitterness and savor it.
3. Canary Melon
The taste of this melon is famous for its distinct tanginess. It combines the taste of usual melons with a hint of citrus-like tangy flavor. The melon is smooth and bright yellow from the outside. It is eaten raw and as fruit salad popularly in Asia and South America.
Scientifically the species is called Cucumis melo in the Inodorus group and commonly it’s also called the winter melon. The shape is somewhat oblong and the interior contains seeds that are separate from the rest of the flesh of the fruit. The flesh color ranges from clean white to light green and sometimes yellow too.
Image Source: Wikimedia
4. Cantaloupe
Also called rockmelon in English and known by many other names in many languages around the globe. Scientifically called Cucumis melo. The fruit is suggested to have originated somewhere between India and Africa. Today it is grown on a commercial scale in many countries including the US and is eaten almost all over the world.
Again, China leads in the world production of cantaloupes accounting for more than half of all production. The fruit is enjoyed cold with cream or custard and even its seeds are used as snacks. They have a netted exterior cover and pale orange or yellow fleshy interior with seeds in the center.
5. Casaba Melons
Originally from ancient Persia where this fruit became popular. The name refers to Kasaba, a town in Turkey. The fruit was imported from this town into the US and hence the name. They are lively bright yellow in color and have a wrinkled texture on the outer covering. The interior is creamy white and sweet in taste. They are served as a part of fruit salads and their juice is added to many drinks.
Image Source: Wikimedia
6. Charentais Melon
This is a variety of cantaloupes from the Charentais region of France. Its size is small than other melons. Comparable to the size of a softball. Its interior flesh is darker in color than other cantaloupes. Often orange or pink. It also has a characteristic aroma that makes it stand apart.
The outer covering has stipes going from the stem joint to diametrically other end forming a ribbed pattern, unlike other cantaloupes which have a netted exterior. It is not generally found anywhere else because it does not survive long-distance shipping owing to its thin skin and soft flesh.
Image Source: Wikimedia
7. Galia Melons
The Galia melons are also commonly referred to as Sarda. It is a hybrid developed in Israel from two other melons. The outer covering has a rough dense pattern of lines crisscrossing each other. It turns from green to yellow as it ripens and gives a distinctive aromatic smell. They are not difficult to grow and do well in shipping and that is the reason for their popularity. Presently they are grown in Brazil, Spain, Morocco, Turkey, and Egypt.
8. Gac Melon
This is a small melon that has refreshing bright orange skin with lots of tiny spikes. The interior first has an edible light orange to yellow layer. It is usually not eaten. The desired part is the juicy fleshy red part which is riddled with seeds. Just like a watermelon, you have to endeavor to eat the sweet fruit avoiding the seeds. One of the tastiest types of melons in the world is popular in many countries in Southeast Asia.
Image Source: Wikimedia
9. Honeydew Melon
The name of this melon describes the taste. The interior is smooth, and the flesh is pale green in color. Sometimes a shade of yellow too. The outer covering is yellow in color too and is waxy. The waxiness of the outer surface is also a determiner of a ripened honeydew melon as otherwise, it’s hard to know. Unripe honeydews have a fuzzy outside cover and an unripe pale green color. The fruit is low in cholesterol and a healthy source of energy and vitamins. It is popularly served in fruit salad as a snack.
Image Source: Wikimedia
10. Horned Melon
The scientific name of this fruit is Cucumis metuliferus. Popular common names apart from horned melon include kiwano or jelly melon. The outer skin cover has lots of spikes and that makes it distinguishable from other melons. The fruit grows natively in Southern African countries like Namibia, Angola, and South Africa.
It is rich in water and is used as one of the sources in the dry Kalahari Desert. The communities in the region have included it as a part of their diets and are eaten either as a snack or as a salad. The taste of the juicy flesh is described as a mixture of banana, passionfruit, and even lime. It is one of the tastiest types of melons in the world.
These are the 10 types of melons in the world. Kindly share and do post your comments.
