There are two types of melon: European and North American. The North American variety is commonly referred to as a melon and has a rocky, reticulated rind. A ripe melon can be determined by its sweet smell. Cantaloupe is a popular breakfast side in the US due to its sweetness and health benefits. The melon has a long history, including being associated with popes.
There are actually two fruits commonly known as melon. Both are melons of the Cucumis melo species, but the two subspecies are actually different. One, the European variety Cucumis melo cantalupensis can be distinguished by its greenish skin – more the color of a honeydew melon than a North American melon. The North American variety, Cucumis melo melo, is sometimes referred to as a melon because of its rocky, reticulated rind, usually light brown in color. The name is most commonly used for the North American variety, especially in the United States.
The melon is a rough-skinned fruit, with a fairly soft, but somewhat firm flesh. This flesh has a pale orange color and is one of the least sweet melons, though still heavily sugary. Some melons seem to have more yellow fruit, but in general the flavor of this variety is less savory and therefore less refined.
Choosing a ripe and tasty melon is pretty easy. Instead of knocking the fruit or shaking it vigorously, the easiest way to determine ripeness is to simply smell the fruit. A ripe, sweet melon will have a deep, sweet smell emanating from its rind, especially near where the stem was broken.
Cantaloupe is one of the most popular breakfast sides in the United States, due to its availability, affordability, relative sweetness, and health benefits. It contains a number of chemicals known to help boost the immune system, as well as some that help reduce the risk of heart attacks. Also, while melons like watermelon and even honeydew may seem overly sweet and “dessert” to many people, cantaloupe is sweet enough to be desirable, while still feeling like a healthy food.
The melon has quite a long history, having famously made a voyage to the New World with Columbus on his second voyage. A number of popes are also associated with the melon: Pope Innocent XIII apparently enjoyed drinking his port from one that had been hollowed out. In fact, the name itself derives from the name of the city where the Papacy kept one of its summer residences – Cantalupo in Sabina.
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