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Types of Melon

There are many different types of melon available around the world, coming in a variety of sizes, colours and flavours.

This article covers the main melon varieties available in the UK – enjoy them as a snack, starter or in a dessert!

Cantaloupe Melon

Cantaloupe melons are a popular choice to serve in a fruit salad, with ice cream, or as a snack in a lunchbox. Cantaloupes have orange coloured flesh and are deliciously sweet and juicy.

Cantaloupes are thought to come from northern Africa, but the name ‘cantaloupe’ is named after the region of ‘Cantalupo’ near Rome in Italy.

They are commonly grown in Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Italy, Panama, Spain and the USA.

Watermelon

Although available all year, watermelons are typically associated with the summer months as the perfect thirst quencher on a hot day.

Watermelons are usually larger than other melon varieties – although you can get varying sizes.

When you cut into a watermelon, the inside flesh is a tempting, bright red colour and normally has lots of blacks seeds – although you can increasingly get seedless watermelons.

Watermelons are usually served as chunky slices either on their own or alongside other fresh fruits.

Honeydew

Honeydew melons have a slightly sweet taste; the most common way to enjoy them is by cutting them up into slices or cubes and serving them as a starter, sometimes with some parma ham. They are a particularly popular Christmas dinner starter.

It’s also possible to freeze honeydew melon pieces and use them as ice cubes in iced tea, which will give you all of the flavour without watering down your drink!

Honeydew melons are oval in shape, usually with yellow skin. The flesh tends to be a pale green or yellow colour.

Galia

With green skin and yellow flesh, Galia melons are grown across the world, including Brazil, Morocco, Spain and Costa Rica.

Galia melons are versatile; they can be enjoyed as they are or added to salads, turned into a sorbet dessert or included in a smoothie.

Charentais

Charentais melons are very similar in appearance to cantaloupes and are a smaller variety. They are named after the Charentes region of France, where they originated from and are mainly grown.

The skin of a charentais is green in colour, and the sweet juicy flesh is a dark orange. The sweetness of the Charentais melon makes it the ideal dessert.

Piel de Sapo (Santa Claus)

Piel de Sapo melons originated in Spain, and when translated quite literally, means ‘frog skin’ owing to the rough green textured skin.

The flesh is sweet and juicy and can be enjoyed as a dessert, in a salad or even alongside some cheese.

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