Horned Melons

African Horned Cucumber

Jelly Melon

Kiwano

Horned Melons have little horns growing out of bright yellow skin with a bit of orange on it . They are about 3 to 5 inches long (7.5 to 13 cm) and average 2 inches wide (5 cm.) They will weigh anywhere from 1 to 2 pounds (1/2 a kilo to a kilo.)

Inside, the flesh looks like lime-green jelly -- or like something bobbing about at the edge of your garden pond.

This is a problematic melon. Unless there are two varieties floating around, then it appears that in eating this melon two genetically different taste bud genes are emerging in humans.

Some food writers say the seeds are edible, and that the wonderful sweet and sour taste is a complex combination of banana, cucumber, lime, mango pineapple and watermelon flavours.

To others, the seeds are technically edible, but they are as appealing as the tough, bitter and stringy seeds found in a cucumber that is past it. And it could be that to people in this genetic camp, the taste is so complex that they can't detect it: to these people, there is no taste at all. Zip-dee-doo-dah flavour. These people seem to be in the same camp as most mammals, because most mammals won't even touch it.

It is grown in California and New Zealand. Its copyrighted name is "Kiwano."

Cooking Tips for Horned Melons

The shell is not edible. You eat it by cutting the fruit in half and spooning the green goo out. Not appropriate for slicing into wedges.

Or, cut the top off, clean out and discard all the insides, and use as a glass for a drink, or cut in half, clean out, and use as fun bowls.

Storage Hints for Horned Melons

Never store in refrigerator. Don't store near bananas or apples or any fruit that produces a lot of ethylene ripening gas.

History Notes for Horned Melons

Native to South-west and Central Africa. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand in the 1930s as an ornamental plant, which escaped cultivation and became a weed.

Literature & Lore about Horned Melons

Scuttlebutt has it that this is the fruit used on Star Trek when they want to portray alien fruit. You may have seen it in the series either in a bowl or scurrying about.

Recipe Search

Also called:

Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. ex Naud (Scientific Name); Concombre africain, Kiwano, Melon cornu (French)

Other entries for: Melons
Babáco Melons, Banana Melons, Blue Ridge Melons, Bolero Melons, Butterscotch Melons, Cassabanana Melons, Collective Farm Woman Melons, Emerald Gem Melons, Emerald Jewel Melons, Emerald Pearl Melons, Honeyball Melons, Horned Melons, Kharbuza Melons, Pineapple Melons, Sharlyn Melons, Sprite Melons, Summer Melons, Winter Melons, Yellow Melons, Yubari Melons

Other entries for: Hard Fruit
Apples, Apricots, Avocado, Chayote, Citrus Fruit, Guava Fruit, Kiwis, Mangos, Maypop Fruit, Medlars, Nectarines, Papaya, Passion Fruit, Peaches, Pears, Persimmons, Plums, Pomegranates, Quinces, Red Sorrel, Rose Hips, Sapote, Star Fruit, True Service Fruit

Other entries for: Fruit
Bananas, Bletting, Candied Fruit, Dried Fruit, Drupes, Olives, Rhubarb, Soft Fruit

Scuttlebutt has it that this is the fruit that appears on Star Trek when they want alien fruit.