Melons are the ultimate summer fruits. They are classified in the Cucurbitaceae family of fruits, which also includes the family such as strawberries, raspberries, and cucumbers.
There are different types of melons both sweet and bitter. There are elongated, oval, and spherical melons. Smooth and scaly skin. Red, yellow, and green skins.
Melons have been in cultivation for thousands of years. They originate from South Asia, Africa, India, and Iran.
One significant point about the different melon types is that it has many health benefits.
The different types of melons are rich in fiber, antioxidants, Vitamins A and C, and potassium. They have low carb and sugar content. The different types of melons are more than 40 today, both natural and hybrid. We will talk about the different types of melons and their unique points – the ones you knew and didn’t.
Come Along then!
Table of Contents
Different Types of Melons, Pictures, and Uniqueness
First, we will make a list and treat them fully:
- Watermelon
- Cantaloupe Melon
- Winter Melon
- Autumn Sweet Melon
- Ananas Melon
- Honeydew Melon
- Apollo Melon
- Yubari Melon
- Canary Melon
- Muskmelon
- Santa Claus Melon
- Santa Claus Melon
- Ten Me Melon
- Sugar Melon
- Crane Melon
1. Watermelon
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is also known as Citrullus. Juicy, refreshing, and sweet fruit with a green exterior, red flesh, black seeds, and high water content, watermelon features dark green stripes on its light green back.
However today, there are seedless watermelons through breeding.
It is the most popular of all types of melon and one of the most cultivated fruits globally. It has a very high water content.
It is grown in almost all the continents of the world. Watermelons are often available in large quantities during their peak season in summer. Some of the top producers of watermelon include China, Turkey, Iran, Brazil, and Egypt.
But primarily, watermelons are native to Africa and Asia.
It requires low maintenance and is a high-yielding melon with a maturity age of 90 days from planting till harvest. As long as it’s not affected by factors affecting plant growth.
2. Cantaloupe Melon
One can never mention the Different Types of Melons without this. The cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo var. cantaloupe) is one of the most popular melon varieties among the different types of melon.
A sweet and juicy melon with a tan rind, orange flesh, and a musky aroma. Its unique net-like texture makes it distinguishable. Like watermelon, it is also known for its high water content.
It originated in Asia and arrived in the US and Europe around the late 1800s. They can have different sizes but their skin distinguishes them.
What is unique about it is its skin; a distinctive net-like pattern of raised ridges and valleys. The texture of the rind is rough and quite hard. The inside is soft and juicy.
The light-orange flesh is covered in a green rind which is exceptionally delicious and juicy. Cantaloupe is a good source of nutrients, such as vitamin C, potassium, and beta-carotene. It can be eaten raw.
Some of the top producers of cantaloupes include China, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and the United States. There they can be found in large quantities.
3. Winter Melon
Next on our list of the different types of melons is the Winter melon.
Winter melon is a popular vegetable in many Asian countries, particularly in China, India, and Southeast Asia, and can be found in large quantities there. It is often used in soups and stews. And for stir-fries in Chinese cooking. It is also used as a natural sweetener in some desserts.
It is worth noting that the availability of winter melon may depend on the season and location. However, the unique thing about the winter melon is that it’s a winter survivor although its harvest season is summer. That’s how it got its name.
They look like watermelons because of their oval shape and dark green skin. But they have white stripes like zucchini or squash. It is also known by its other name, Chinese pickling melon.
4. Autumn Sweet Melon
Autumn Sweet Melon is a type of muskmelon. It is sweet and juicy. It can be identified by its golden-orange flesh and smooth, tan skin.
It is unique for its distinct flavor, which is a combination of honey, vanilla, and floral notes. The melon is also known for its high sugar content and intense aroma, which becomes more pronounced as it ripens.
The Autumn Sweet melon is often eaten fresh as a dessert or used in fruit salads. It can be found in large quantities in North America, particularly in California, Arizona, and Texas where it is grown.
5. Ananas Melon
Ananas is a type of muskmelon. It has an oval shape which makes sit look like a cantaloupe. It is orange-fleshed and has a smooth, creamy feel.
When a ripped Ananas melon is cooked, it smells like pineapples. In many European languages, the word for pineapple is “Ananas.”
Melons include antioxidant vitamins A and C, which can help improve the immune system and decrease inflammation. Fiber, folate, potassium, magnesium, copper, and vitamin K are also found in melons.
It can be cooked or eaten in salads.
6. Honeydew Melon
Honeydew is similar to muskmelon in appearance and flavor, with smooth, silky skin and a sweet, honey-like flavor. Honey melons vary from cantaloupes in that their flesh is typically bland. Which means that they’re not particularly sweet.
Honeydew melons, just like winter melons, defy the winter and can be gotten throughout the winter months in North America.
They have an extraordinarily long lifespan due to their extended shelf life and great flavor when allowed to grow slowly.
7. Apollo Melon
Have you ever heard of Apollo Melon? It is a delicious yellow skin melon that consists of white flesh and high water content. The taste of this melon variety is also sweet, and fresh, and has a fibreless texture.
If you have a sweet tooth and prefer a healthier choice, you should give it a try.
8. Yubari melon
The Yubari King is the king among the different types of melons.
It is a hybrid of two other cantaloupe cultivars: Earl’s Favourite and Burpee’s “Spicy” Cantaloupe.
The Yubari is a rare Japanese melon cultivar that is grown only in Hokkaido. They are incredibly expensive not just because they are rare, but also because they have a distinct, coveted sweetness and a beautiful spherical form.
During Chgen, Japanese people give Yubari King melons as presents. Two Yubari King melons sold for $2.5 million at a Japanese auction in 2008.
It is carefully selected before the sale. The orange flesh is a factor to be considered as it determines its sweetness. Even those that are too sweet will not be sold. Some of these melons have spread from their natural habitat to other places.
9. Canary Melon
This kind of melon is called the canary melon because of the yellow skin that mimics the bird. A popular melon among the different types of melons.
The canary melon (Cucumis melo L. inodorus group), is also known as Juan Canary melon or Amarillo melon. It is a type of muskmelon.
Wonder why it’s named after a bird. it’s because of its bright yellow color like the canary bird when it has become fully ripe.
One unique aspect of the Canary melon is its flavor. It has a distinctive, sweet taste that is often described as a combination of honeydew melon and cantaloupe. Its flesh is also very juicy and tender, with a smooth, creamy texture.
Another unique feature of the Canary Melon is its size and shape. It is larger than many other types of melon, with an oblong shape that is somewhat similar to a football. The rind of the Canary melon is relatively smooth, with a slightly waxy texture, and is typically pale green or yellow.
Canary melons are also known for their nutritional benefits. They are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. They are low in calories and fat, making them a healthy addition to any diet.
Canary melon is ready to eat when it is completely yellow, without retaining any green color.
10. MuskMelon
Muskmelon (also called Korean melon) features pale pink to light-orange flesh and narrow, light-colored stripes down the length of the skin.
Korean melons are distinguished by their golden skin and translucent white flesh. The beautiful yellow melon is comparable to honeydew melons, so some say.
The skin of Korean melons is edible, and so is its seed. The melon’s skin only has to be washed properly before consumption.
11. Santa Claus Melon
The Santa Claus melon (Cucumis melo L. inodorus group), is also known as Christmas melon or piel de sapo. It is a type of muskmelon that can be found in large quantities in Spain and South America where it is primarily grown.
One of the unique features of the Santa Claus melon is its appearance. It has a rough surface with dark green stripes that resemble the skin of a gigantic Santa Claus or a toad, hence the term “piel de Sapo,” which means “toad skin” in Spanish. The Santa Claus melon is often round or oblong.
Another unique aspect of the Santa Claus melon is its flavor. It has a mild, sweet taste that is often compared to a cross between honeydew and cucumber, with a slightly crunchy texture. When ripe, the flesh of the Santa Claus melon is pale green, juicy, and refreshing.
The Santa Claus melon is also a good source of nutrition. It is low in calories and high in water content, making it a great hydrating snack. It is also a good source of vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber.
12. Valencia Melon
Ice-cold honeydew with pale green flesh and a dark green, somewhat ribbed rind. With its dark, forest green, webbed skin and creamy white, sensitive meat, it has a remarkable melon profile.
It is grown not just for its creamy, sweet flavor with gingery undertones, but also for its extended shelf life, which may be preserved until winter. While it originated in Italy, it is currently grown for commercial purposes in China, France, and Algeria. There you can find it in large quantities.
Fun fact about the Valencia Melon: It was first listed in American catalogs in the 1830s.
13. Ten Me Melon
It is the most costly melon available because of its high quality. When mature, it has a smooth, pale yellow exterior and an unequaled soft, sweet, and aromatic flesh cultivated in just a few areas. It is frequently offered as sorbets and salads at five-star hotels.
This melon has a strong fragrance, is exceptionally sweet, and is thick but delicate. The skin of the melon is smooth and webbed, with pale to yellowish skin. Regardless of price, this is one of the melons you should try at least once in your life.
14. Sugar Melon
Sugar melon is called such because it has 14% sugar content.
It is considered as the candy melon with a distinct orange, creamy textured flesh. It can be found in large quantities in Texas where it is widely cultivated to be turned into preserves and seed oil. It is also an export fruit product.
Sugar melon (Cucumis melo L. saccharinus group), also known as honeydew melon, is a type of muskmelon that is known for its sweet and juicy flavor. It is typically round or slightly oval, with a smooth, waxy exterior that ranges in color from light green to white or yellow.
One unique feature of the sugar melon is its flesh. It has a striking pale green ribbed skin and a soft, succulent texture with a sweet and slightly musky flavor. The seeds of the sugar melon are small and are usually removed before consuming the fruit.
Sugar melon is low in calories and fat. It is also high in vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber.
Sugar melon is often consumed fresh or used in a variety of dishes, such as fruit salads, smoothies, and desserts. It pairs well with other fruits, such as berries and kiwi, as well as with savory foods like prosciutto or feta cheese.
15. Crane Melon
The Crane Melon is slightly pear-shaped.
The Crane melon (Cucumis melo L. reticulatus group), is also known as the Crane Canyon melon. It is a type of muskmelon that is primarily grown in Sonoma County, California. You can get it in large quantities there.
One unique feature of the Crane melon is its flavor. It has a distinctively sweet, yet spicy taste with a slightly floral aroma. The flesh is also very juicy and tender, with a smooth, creamy texture.
Another unique aspect of the Crane melon is its size and shape. It is larger than many other types of melon, with a round shape that is slightly flattened at the ends. The rind of the Crane melon is relatively smooth, with a netted pattern, and is typically pale green or yellow.
Crane melons are also known for their nutritional benefits. They are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. They are low in calories and fat, making them a healthy addition to any diet.
The Crane melon is a favorite among many chefs and food enthusiasts, who appreciate its unique flavor and texture. It is often enjoyed fresh, in salads, or paired with cheese and wine. A must-try among the different types of melons.
Conclusion
From these Different Types of Melons, I am sure that there are more than twenty melon types to want to try in the coming years. No need to wait till it’s summertime. Some melons last through the winter. This post is also written because melons are part of biodiversity. The causes of biodiversity loss should be watched. They are natural resources that should be conserved.
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