Some other types of melons are:
- Ambrosia Melon - This netted muskmelon is very similar to the American "cantaloupe." The flesh is a deep
orange and has a more intense flavor. The scent of the melon, when ripe, is very strong and appealing.
- Butterscotch Melons - These buttery rich melons are becoming increasing popular at local farmers markets
and specialty grocery stores around the country. These small melons have a pale green skin and a two-toned
green and orange flesh. The green flesh nearest the rind is edible, and very sweet. Many people think the flesh
tastes like butterscotch candy, which is where the name comes from. Ripe melons are paler in color with a sweet
sugary aroma.
- Casaba Melon - The casaba melon is a large melon with a thick-ridged yellow skin. The flesh is wonderfully
mild and juicy in flavor, and has a very creamy vanilla-orange color. They are usually available in the mid to late
fall. The easiest way to choose a ripe casaba is to look for a slightly soft blossom end.
- Charentais Melons - Charentais melons, also called French or French Breakfast Melons are considered by
many to be the most flavorful melons in the world. The skin is a grayish yellow-green color and the
flesh is very sweet and pale orange. The melons are typically the size of large grapefruits and weight about two
pounds.
- Cranshaw Melon - The cranshaw, or crenshaw melon, is a very popular and
flavorful melon well known for its wonderful aroma and flavor. Cranshaws are large oval shaped melons with
a yellow-green ridged skin. The flesh is a vibrant orange-pink that has a wonderful flavor and scent. Ripe
cranshaws are easy to pick out as they are perhaps the most fragrant of melons when they are ripe.
- Emerald Jewel - These “gift melons” imported from Japan are the latest trend in flavorful attractive melons.
They are typically 3 to 4 pounds in size and have a netted brown and green skin. The flesh is a bright white and
very sweet and juicy.
- Emerald Pearl - Another “gift melon” imported from Japan, They are typically 3-4 pounds in size and have
a netted green skin. The flesh is very sweet and green with a delightful crispness that almost borders on crunchy.
- Galia Melons - These are delightful mid-east honeydew melons. They have a golden-green netted exterior
and pale green flesh.
- They have a wonderful aroma and sweet and juicy flavor. Generally Galia melons are riper when they have
a lighter, yellow skin and a very strong sweet aroma.
- Juan Canary Melons - The bright yellow football shaped melons are very distinctive and the cream colored
flesh is widely used in salads and desserts. Ripe melons should be very firm, heavy for their size, and slightly
fragrant.
- Kiwano or African Horned melon is an oval shaped fruit with horns on its peel. It has a bright orange and yellow skin with a
pale yellow-green pulp inside. The flavor of the pulp is sweet and a bit tart with a flavor mix of bananas, lime
and cucumber. Kiwano melon is native to southern and central Africa and is commonly known as an African
horned melon. Most imported melons are now from New Zealand. California has began growing this melon,
so a domestic product is available part of the year.
- Persian Melon - This netted skinned muskmelon has a beautiful green skin and pinky orange flesh. They are
very sweet and are slightly larger than the American Cantaloupe. Ripe Persian melons are noticeably heavier
than their unripe counterparts and store very well in the refrigerator for up to a week until you are ready to use
them.
- Santa Claus Melon - Also called Christmas melon or December melon. The Santa Claus melon is very
flavorful and is great for salads and other dishes. Many varieties are quite large, and even though they look like
small watermelons on the outside, on the inside they are almost exactly like honeydew melons. The ripest Santa
Claus melons have soft blossom ends and a distinct yellow tinge to the skin.
- Sprite Melons - These North Carolina specialties are finally being distributed all across the country. These
tiny melons are about the size of softballs and frequently weight less than a pound. They have a very firm and
crisp apple-like flesh and the flavor is something like a mixture between pear, apple, and honeydew and is very
sweet. Ripe melons have a mottled yellow skin, while unripe melons are a pale cream color.
