elons, native to Africa, have been cultivated for thousands of years. The proof? Depictions of the fruit in Egyptian tomb paintings and seeds found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun., deeply sweet, crisp, and gushing with juices. Seedless versions of the fruit are created by treating young plants with colchicine, a chemical that causes the plant to produce fruits with nonviable seeds that do not develop a fibrous black seed coat. Some say is sweeter than the more common red- and pink-flesh varieties, featuring subtle honey notes. The melon is also known for its pleasant floral sweetness; it tastes like a crisper, more flavorful cantaloupe. ’s name means “skin of the frog” in Spanish; it is a popular variety for juicing in Brazil. Creamy and fragrant, the is thought to have been introduced in 1929 when the Aggeler & Musser Seed Company crossed a green-flesh honeydew with a popular cantaloupe-like melon known as the “Tip Top.” The wrinkly-rind was first cultivated in Persia; it was imported to the United States from Kasaba, Turkey. Covered in a latticed rind like a cantaloupe, but with juicy green flesh like a honeydew, the melon is particularly beloved in Europe; it’s a refreshing addition to salad. The watermelon, so named for the celestial spots on its rind, is one of the most popular heirloom varieties in the United States; it disappeared in the years after its 1920s creation but was rediscovered in the 1980s. When juicy, Asian pear–like melons are in season, they’re a popular treat to eat out of hand in Korea and Japan.
