Golden Honeydew

With similar taste and texture to that of a common honeydew, golden honeydew has a slightly bright golden-hued skin and is sweeter in taste. It has a firm, smooth, and thin skin with succulent and velvety flesh.

This article talks about golden honeydew in detail. It covers the following topics:

History
Description and taste
Seasons and availability
Nutritional value
Cultural information
Application
5 incredible health benefits

golden honey dew cut on white background

Golden Honeydew — A Nature’s Gift

From great taste to great health benefits, Golden honeydew melon is an all-rounder. Keep reading to find out more about this fruit.

History

Golden honeydew melons are almost thousands of years old. Their origin is a little confusing, though; while some believe it originated from the Middle East, others think it belongs to Western Asia or West Africa. Melons were introduced to the New World by Spanish and Portuguese explorers back in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Description and Taste

Golden honeydews melons are medium in size that are about 15 to 22 centimeters lengthwise with an oval to round appearance. It weighs around four to eight pounds. Golden Honeydew Melon’s skin is thin, smooth, and firm with bright yellow color and shallow striations.

Golden Honeydew Melons have a combination of waxy and oily coating over the rind and as they ripen, their texture becomes sticky (if you want to check the stickiness, run your thumb over the surface and you will hear a shrilling sound).

The flesh of this melon varies from a white color to an ivory color having a pale green outline. They have a chewy and succulent consistency. In the middle, between the flesh, there is a small cavity that stores oval-shaped seeds that are brown in color. They have a slippery gelatinous layer around them that holds them together.

Moreover, the golden honeydew melon also has a floral to fruity aroma especially when it ripens. They have a sweet, refreshing flavor with a hint of honey aftertaste.

Seasons and Availability

From summer through early fall is the season of availability of the Golden honeydew melons. These are also exported globally, mainly between the northern and southern hemispheres ensuring their year-round availability in most commercial markets.

Nutritional Value

Golden honeydew melons are a great source of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps strengthen the immune system and lessen inflammation. It also has good traces of fiber that helps regulate the digestive tract. These melons are also rich in Vitamin A that helps in maintaining a healthy organ system and functioning.

Moreover, golden honeydew melons also have potassium and iron that help balance body fluid levels and develop the protein hemoglobin that is essential for oxygen transport.

Here is a nutritional breakdown of one cup or 177 grams of golden honeydew melon:

Calories: 64
Carbs: 16 grams
Fiber: 1.4 grams
Protein: 1 gram
Fat: 0 grams
Vitamin C: 53% of the reference daily intake (RDI)
Vitamin B6: 8% of the RDI
Folate: 8% of the RDI
Vitamin K: 6% of the RDI
Potassium: 12% of the RDI
Magnesium: 4% of the RDI

Cultural Information

There is a separate “multi-day melon festival” in Chinchilla, Australia, where all types of melons are celebrated. It is a small town in Queensland with one of the most extraordinary melon production; it grows ¼ of the melons sold throughout Australia. It is also sometimes referred to as the “melon capital of Australia”

The people of Chinchilla started celebrating this festival in 1994 that was initially celebrated to rejoice in the town’s spirit during drought times. This once small festival has now turned into a celebration enjoyed by more than 10,000 people.

People come from different cities to take part in this festival. Different melons such as golden honeydew melon, rockmelon, or watermelon are displayed and sold by farms and vendors during this festival.

Moreover, this festival includes a parade, melon smash, relay race, and eating competition. This festival soon gained worldwide popularity and attention; it is now celebrated in the United States too.

Application

Golden honeydew melons are refreshingly sweet in taste. They make a great ingredient in fresh preparations like salads. The trick here is to wash the rind before opening, then cutting the melon in slices, removing the seeds, and then separating the flesh from the skin.

These can be used in salad, fruit salad, or as a topping over pancakes. They also go well within smoothies or soups..

5 Health Benefits

Helps Reduce Blood Pressure

A diet full of fruits and vegetables is linked with a reduced risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Also, a low-sodium and adequate potassium intake diet can improve your blood pressure regulation. Golden honeydew melon, being a low-sodium and high-potassium fruit, can help you maintain your blood pressure.

Nutrients That Are Great For Bones

Golden honeydew melons contain nutrients such as magnesium, folate, and vitamin K essential for your bones. Folate is great for your homocysteine breakdown; this likewise helps reduce the bone mineral density with time. On the other hand, vitamin K is the main part of the protein structure in bones; hence an adequate supply of vitamin K ensures strong bones.

Electrolytes and Water

Golden honeydew melon is rich in electrolytes and water. Hydration is not solely dependent upon water — for good hydration, your body also needs electrolytes. Golden honeydew melon is 90% water and contains electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. This fruit is the perfect combination for your dehydration problems.

Healthy Skin

As mentioned earlier, golden honeydew melon contains water and electrolytes, likewise keeping your skin fresh and clear. Moreover, it also has vitamin C that helps in the proper production of collagen; this maintains and repairs your skin tissues.

Proper Digestion

Honeydew melon is an excellent source of fiber that is linked with improving the digestive system. Significant fiber intake also slows blood sugar response, likewise promoting the growth of healthy gut bacteria.