Korea is a country with four distinct seasons, and from August, the scorching heat is raging nationwide which makes you feel like you are sitting in a sauna. In the summer, when people sweat a lot and their energy declines, Koreans often eat fresh seasonal fruits to stay in no-sweat zone. Summer fruits contain a wealth of nutrients with exceptionally high water content, which are very effective in relieving fatigue and restoring energy. Watermelon, melon, and Korean melon are considered to be the most typical summer fruits: The Three Melon Avengers. Not only are they rich in vitamins good for recovering the exhausted body, but also the sweetness bursts inside the mouth when served cold. No wonder they are all time favorites of Koreans. These are different kinds of melon which come in several colors such as red, green, and yellow varieties with pleasant taste and crunchy texture. Read along to get to know more about three types of melon available in Korea.

 

① The Temptation of Intense Red, Watermelon

Watermelon, which takes up more than 90% of the water, is an excellent fruit for hydration and cooling the heat. In the recent poll, watermelon ranked second as the fruit most loved by Koreans. As the wide variety of watermelons is more available now, it has been popular both at home and abroad such as yellow watermelon which is yellow in its flesh and shells, mini watermelon that can be peeled off like apple, and seedless watermelon. In particular, the benefit of watermelon is not only limited to thirst-quenching. Watermelon is a great source of lycopene that gives color to its red flesh, and a powerful antioxidant; other benefits include improving immunity and help combat the cancer cell growth. As citrulline is rich in watermelon rind, it helps improve blood circulation and arterial function. Watermelon is mainly cultivated in Buyeo and Nonsan in Chungcheongnam-do, Jeongeup in Jeollabuk-do, and Haman in Gyeongsangnam-do. In order to produce the high quality watermelon from these regions, striving efforts are continued such as adopting cutting edge watermelon sorter.

 

 

# A Simple Way to Enjoy Watermelon / Watermelon Punch

1. Scoop out 200g watermelon (or can be cut in 1.5cm cube) in a large bowl.

2. Add 500ml milk, 200ml cider, 15ml syrup (honey or sugar), and ice. Mix well.

 

# Tips / How to Pick a Perfect Watermelon

1. The color of rind and black lines should be clear and vivid.

2. Try the tapping technique for ‘a deep hollow sound.’

3. Choose a watermelon with a small belly button

 

# Additional Info: Seedless watermelon, not genetically modified!

There are many consumers who think that seedless watermelons are GMOs. However, since the seedless watermelons produced in Korea are modified by using SWT (Seedless watermelon technology) pollen to remove seeds from watermelons, it can be safely consumed.

 

② The Temptation of Fresh Green, Melon

Melon is a nutrient-dense fruit which contains iron, niacin, vitamin A, vitamin C, and beta-carotene, with high sugar content, soft texture and sweet scent. Because of the perception of high quality fruit, melon is also known as 'luxury fruit' or ‘noble fruit.' In Korea, melons are produced all year round and only the highest quality melons considering taste, color and shape, are selected and distributed. The melons produced in Korea have been recognized by foreign buyers as saying that it is exceptional in terms of quality such as taste and flavor (The aT is not comfortable when compared with other countries' products). The melons are currently exported to Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and are strictly managed from cultivation to selection, which are mainly produced from Naju-si (Sejim-myeon) and Gokseong-gun of Jeollanam-do, and Gochang-gun of Jeollabuk-do.

 

# A Simple Way to Enjoy Melon / Melon Smoothie

1. After cleansing the melon, cut off the tail, and part in half to remove the seeds.

2. Slice the melon into 4 sections into wedges.

3. Put a knife between the rind and flesh to cut it to a good size.

4. Add milk and honey into a blender, and grind it together with melon.

 

# Tips / How to Pick a Perfect Melon

1. The net pattern is even and dense, which is carefully raised up to the top.

2. Regardless of size, the sugar content remains constant.

3. The sweetness hits the peak after 5 days from the indicated date of harvest. After the harvest, it will take 3 days to mature at room temperature (The melon tastes sweet if the bottom part of the melon is soft.)

 

 

# Additional Info: Melon is the most common ice cream flavor in Korea!

‘Melona’, an ice cream that Korea's Binggrae introduced in 1992, is referred as the legend of the domestic ice cream industry. It was the first ice cream with melon flavor, which was a synonym for high quality fruit at that time. As soon as it was launched, it sold more than 20 billion won. ‘Melona’ is loved all over the world that it is even listed on Wikipedia (wikipedia.org), the online encyclopedia.

 

③ The Temptation of Refreshing Yellow, Korean Melon

A palm-sized, bright yellow melon may be a bizarre fruit for foreigners, but it is a representative Korean summer fruit with a long history which has been cultivated since the Three Kingdoms Period. Unlike other melons, it is characterized by crisp texture. Not to mention the abundant juice and its sweet taste as well. The ‘Korean Melon’ is the name used internationally which was given by Codex Alimentarius International Food Standards in 2016, and is exported to Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. The most famous melon-producing area in Korea is Seongju-gun in Gyeongsangbuk-do, which accounts for 70% of domestic production. According to a recognized scientific magazine ‘Nature’, Korean melons are a top source of cucurbitacin, which cleanses liver and inhibits cancer cell proliferation. It is also high in minerals and vitamin C helping to recover fatigue.

 

 

# A Simple Way to Enjoy Korean Melon / Pickled Korean Melon

1. Put all the ingredients for pickle water in a pan and boil them in a high heat until they are all melted.

2. Thoroughly wash the melon with salt. Cut it in 4 sections, and scrape the seed out.

3. Fill up a glass container with chopped melons. Pour the pickle water.

4. Close the lid and keep it in a cool place for a day, then store it in the refrigerator. Serve it chilled.

 

# Tips / How to Pick a Perfect Korean Melon

1. Choose a smaller melon than something too big, as its sugar content is higher.

2. The bright and deep yellow color unique to melon, is well ripen.

3. When you tap, you should have a full shallow sound. If the sound is too dull, it may be a melon with excessive water.

 

 

# Additional Info: Melons should be eaten unpeeled to be healthier!

While it is common to serve the melon peeled, it is better for health when eaten with the skin on as a copious amount of cucurbitacin for cancer prevention is concentrated under the rind. The crunchy taste also doubles. You can also grind the whole melon and drink like juice. You can enjoy it smooth and the nutrient is absorbed faster, especially when milk is added.