A Visual Guide to Melon

Melon Mania 101

It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year – melon mania! Did you know there is a broad range of melons from all different shapes, sizes and names – A to Z? If not, that’s what this visual guide for all the different melon varieties is here for. It’s an easily accessible guide to finding the melon that fits your taste buds’ desires, and in what seasons you can find them. Whether you’re looking for the right melon to combine with prosciutto, or one to make a refreshing agua fresca, we have a flavor description for every occasion!

How to Pick A Melon

Picking out a melon at the grocery store is normally a shot in the dark for most of us – do we sniff it, feel it or look at it? That’s what everyone wants to know. The answer is, all of the above! When picking out your perfect melon there are multiple tips to keep in mind. The first thing you should do is look at the melons and find the ones with no damage to the outside, this includes bruising, cracks or soft spots. Next, you should give the melon a nice little tap because if it’s hollow then it’s ripe and ready. The last two things you should do are pick it up and find the heaviest one (the heavier it is, the juicier it is) and then give it a quick sniff, it should smell fragrant and fresh with a sensation of sweetness. Finally, take your perfect pick to the check out line and enjoy!

Asaki Melon

Flavor
Sweet, like a mild cantaloupe

Texture
Crisp and juicy, with a thin rind

Availability
Mid-March to Mid-July

Canary Melon

Flavor
Unusually sweet and rich, like a brighter more nuanced Cantaloupe

Texture
Firm and nearly crisp

Availability
2nd week of May to 3rd week of June
2nd week of July to 3rd week of September

Casaba Melon

Flavor
Refreshing and creamy, with notes of Korean pear and cucumber

Texture
Semi-firm and wet

Availability
2nd week of May to 3rd week of June
2nd week of July to 3rd week of September

Crenshaw Melon

Flavor
Similar to a cantaloupe, with a delicate hint of spice and less musk

Texture
Buttery, succulent and juicy

Availability
2nd week of May to 3rd week of June
2nd week of July to 3rd week of September

Galia Melon

Flavor
Honeydew and cantaloupe cross, with spicy-sweet tropical aromatics and a slightly musky, banana-like aroma when ripe

Texture
Succulent and juicy

Availability
2nd week of May to 3rd week of June
2nd week of July to 3rd week of September

Gaya Melon

Flavor
Mild, with notes of pear

Texture
Crisp and juicy, with a thin rind

Availability
Mid-March to 3rd week of July

Golden Dewlicious

Flavor
Mouth-wateringly sweet

Texture
Supple and velvety with lots of juice

Availability
3rd week of May to 1st week of November

Hami Melon

Flavor
Like a better cantaloupe, candy-sweet and less musky with a pleasing, lingering flavor

Texture
Juicy and slightly crisp

Availability
Beginning of May to 3rd week of September

Korean Melon

Flavor
Sweet, mild and bright

Texture
Crisp and fresh, with a rind so thin that some people choose to eat it

Availability
Year Round

Lemon Drop Melon

Flavor
Truly, surprisingly lemony, yet simultaneously sweet – just like the candy

Texture
Crisp yet succulent

Availability
3rd week of May to Mid-August

Orange Flesh Melon

Flavor
Very sweet, like a honeydew with more honey

Texture
Firm yet juicy

Availability
2nd week of May to 3rd week of June
2nd week of July to 3rd week of September

Santa Claus Melon

Flavor
Refreshing, cool and sweet

Texture
Crisp yet creamy

Availability
2nd week of May to 3rd week of June
2nd week of July to 3rd week of September

Tuscan Melon

Flavor
Like a perfect cantaloupe

Texture
Very juicy and succulent

Availability
2nd week of April to Mid-November

Yellow Watermelon

Flavor
Deliciously sweet and juicy, with a richer, more honeyed flavor than the red

Texture
Fresh, wet and crisp

Availability
Mid-May to Mid-September