How Do the Melon Types Differ From Each Other?

Although there are around 750 types of melon in total, awareness in this country is primarily focused on two main types: the watermelon and the sugar melon. Most of the common types of melon that you can buy here can be assigned to one of the two types. The main differences are in appearance and taste: watermelons usually have smooth, green skin and red flesh. Because of the high water content, they not only taste sweet but also very fresh and juicy. The black seeds are distributed throughout the pulp. In this country, there are primarily two types available, which differ from each other primarily in terms of appearance: The Sugar Baby variety has particularly bright red flesh and dark green skin. In shape, it is round. The skin of the Crimson Sweet is also dark green but has light green stripes running through it. It is oval in shape and its flesh is slightly firmer and juicier than Sugar Baby. Thanks to their high water content, watermelons are ideal for grilling directly on the grid. In addition, the mix of light sweetness and freshness goes particularly well with hearty, spicy aromas. For example, try our melon salad with feta. Contrary to popular belief, you can eat the white edge between the skin and the flesh of a watermelon. It is best to trigger it separately and add it to a salad or smoothie.

Types of melon: Cantaloupe, Charentais, Net and Honeydew melon

Four subspecies of the sugar melon are regularly available in this country. They are usually sweeter and richer in taste than watermelons. The flesh is firmer and either yellowish, white, green or orange. The seeds are only in the middle of the fruit and can be easily removed with a spoon before eating. The honeydew melon is probably the most well-known sugar melon. It is also called “Yellow Canary Melon”. Its yellow skin hides greenish-white flesh. Their aroma is particularly intense and sweet compared to other sugar melons. It tastes very delicious, for example, as a melon smoothie. The cantaloupe has orange-colored flesh and is also called “mustard melon” because of its skin with individual bumps. It tastes very aromatic and a little less sweet than the honey variety. It is a wonderful base for a starter that is particularly popular in the Mediterranean region: melon with ham. The Charentais melon was in turn bred from the cantaloupe. Their light skin has dark stripes and their flesh is orange. Their taste is also very aromatic and slightly sweet. Net melons also form a separate genus within the sugar melons. A particularly well-known variant is the Galia melon, whose yellow skin has a characteristic net pattern. The flesh is white or slightly green and tastes very sweet.

Cultivation and melon varieties – when are they ripe?

Even if the cultivation of melons is concentrated in warmer regions such as the Mediterranean and China, you should always store the different types in a cool place. Eight to 13 degrees are considered optimal. Since the fridge is a little too cold, a pantry is best. You can chill watermelons in the fridge for about half an hour before serving. So it refreshes a little more effectively. Incidentally, as a pumpkin plant, melons are considered vegetables – wrap them in cling film, for example, and store them in the fridge for a short time. You can tell how ripe watermelon is by tapping on the peel. If it sounds dull, the vegetables are ripe. If the skin has a yellow spot, you can also be sure that the pumpkin was allowed to fully mature on the plant. Note, however, that watermelons ripen afterward. Ripe melons can be recognized by their sweet scent. In addition, the shell gives slightly under strong pressure.