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Dino melons are small to medium fruits, similar in size to a small honeydew, and have a uniform, round to oval shape. The rind is smooth, firm, and thin with a white to ivory base, covered in light and dark green striping, specks, and spots. Underneath the surface, the white flesh is dense, crisp, tender, and aqueous, encasing a central cavity filled with brown, flat seeds and white membranes. Dino melons are aromatic and have a very sweet, subtly honeyed flavor with a hint of tartness. The flesh consistently averages 12 and above on the Brix scale, which is a high measurement of the amount of sugar found within the flesh, giving the melon its sweet taste.
Seasons/Availability
Dino melons are available in the winter through early spring.
Current Facts
Dino melons, botanically classified as Cucumis melo, are a relatively new, sweet melon variety belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. The melon is exclusively grown through Agricola Famosa in Brazil and was first introduced into Europe in 2015. Dino melons are whimsically named after their resemblance to a dinosaur egg with its speckled, white and green flesh, and they are also known as Snowball melons in Great Britain. The melons are considered to be a specialty variety, only grown in limited quantities, and their growing season peaks during the winter months, which is typically the off-season for melon production. Dino melons are known for their high sugar content, earning the title as one of the sweetest tasting varieties available in commercial markets for fresh eating.
Nutritional Value
Dino melons are mainly comprised of water, which can contribute to hydration, and provide low amounts of vitamins A and C, which are antioxidants that can help strengthen the immune system and have anti-inflammatory properties. The melons also contain some magnesium, folate, and potassium.
Applications
Dino melons are best suited for fresh applications as the juicy, sweet flesh is showcased when eaten straight, out-of-hand. The flesh can be easily removed from the rind and sliced for fruit bowls, salads, and appetizer plates. Dino melons can also be incorporated as a topping over ice cream, yogurt, and oatmeal, chopped into salsa, blended into sorbet, juiced and mixed into smoothies, fruit juices, and cocktails, or pureed, combined with water and sugar, and simmered into a simple syrup. Dino melons pair well with cheeses such as feta, cottage, and mozzarella, meats such as poultry, turkey, and fish, seafood, cucumber, citrus, strawberries, and herbs such as mint, basil, and cilantro. Whole Dino melons will keep at room temperature until ripe. Once cut, the sliced pieces of flesh should be stored in an airtight container for up to three days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Melons are considered to be the fastest-growing specialty fruit category in British commercial markets, and many new varieties, including Dino melons, are being introduced to compete with the popularly sold yellow honeydew. Dino melons are heavily marketed in Great Britain as a Christmas variety and are sold under the name Snowball, a descriptor created from the melon’s white flesh and round shape. The melons are especially loved as a healthy appetizer or dessert during the holiday season, providing a reprieve from the heavier holiday dishes. The melon is also a favorite of children for its sweet flavor. During holiday festivities, Dino melons are eaten straight, out-of-hand, sliced into unique shapes and drizzled in yogurt, or are hollowed out and filled with spiked fruit punch to create a celebratory serving bowl.
Geography/History
Dino melons were developed in Korea from a proprietary, protected parentage and were believed to be related to the white honeydew melon. The seeds of Dino melons were later given to Agricola Famosa, the largest melon growers in Northeastern Brazil, where they adapted multiple cultivation techniques to grow the variety successfully. Agricola Famosa is currently the exclusive grower of the melon, partnering with distributors around the world. In 2015, Dino melons were released to consumer markets in Great Britain and were also introduced at the Amsterdam Produce Show in 2016. The specialty variety continued to see increased commercial success in Europe and was eventually released to American markets in 2019. Today Dino melons can be seasonally found through specialty grocers in Europe, Australia, South America, and the United States.
Waitrose & Partners
128 Gloucester Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 4SF, United Kingdom
Dino melons are small to medium-sized fruits with a smooth, firm rind featuring white to ivory coloring and green specks or stripes. Their flesh is tender, crisp, and sweet, consistently rating 12 or higher on the Brix scale, indicating a high sugar content. The flavor is honeyed with a mild tartness, and inside, they have brown seeds surrounded by white membranes in a central cavity.
Dino Melons: Dino melons thrive in fresh culinary creations, being perfect for fruit bowls, salads, and appetizers. Their sweet and juicy flesh enhances dishes like yogurt, oatmeal, and ice cream. They blend seamlessly into salsas, smoothies, sorbets, or even simple syrups. Pairing perfectly with cheeses, meats, seafood, citrus, and herbs like mint or basil, once cut, their slices can stay fresh for up to three days in an airtight container.
Dino melons are a rare, sweet variety of Cucumis melo, famously grown by Agricola Famosa in Brazil. They were introduced in Europe in 2015 and are nicknamed dinosaur eggs due to their speckled green and white skin. Known as Snowball melons in Great Britain, they thrive in winter, making them unique as an off-season crop. Their high sugar content makes them one of the sweetest melons available for fresh eating.
Dino melons: Known for their festive appeal, Dino melons are marketed in Great Britain under the name Snowball during the Christmas season due to their white flesh and round shape. They are a popular choice for children and are enjoyed in creative ways, such as sliced into shapes, drizzled with yogurt, or hollowed out and filled with spiked fruit punch for holiday celebrations. Their sweet flavor provides a lighter option amid traditional holiday dishes.
Dino melons are popularly marketed in Great Britain as a festive Christmas variety under the name Snowball, attributed to their round shape and white flesh. They often serve as a healthy alternative to heavier holiday dishes. They’re enjoyed sliced into unique shapes with yogurt, eaten fresh, or used creatively as hollowed-out vessels filled with spiked fruit punch for celebratory presentations.
Dino melons grown in Australia are available at CS Fresh market in Singapore ..Dino melons are incredibly versatile and shine in fresh applications like fruit bowls, salads, or appetizer plates. Their sweet, juicy flesh can also be used as toppings for ice cream and yogurt, blended into smoothies, or juiced for cocktails. They pair beautifully with cheeses, meats, seafood, and herbs like mint and cilantro. To store, whole melons ripen at room temperature, while cut pieces stay fresh in airtight containers for up to three days.
Dino melons are a specialty melon variety botanically classified as Cucumis melo, distinguished by their white and green speckled appearance that resembles a dinosaur egg. First introduced to Europe in 2015, these melons are grown exclusively in Brazil by Agricola Famosa. Their high sugar content makes them one of the sweetest melon varieties, available mainly during the winter, a rarity for melons, as it's typically the off-season for melon production.
Dino melons were developed in Korea, believed to share ancestry with the white honeydew melon, and are cultivated exclusively by Agricola Famosa in Brazil. Released to markets in Great Britain in 2015 and later the U.S. in 2019, Dino melons are known for their sweet flavor, white flesh, and round shape, becoming popular as a seasonal specialty in Europe, America, and beyond.
Coachella Valley Farmer's Market
2300 E Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, CA92262
Dino Melons: Dino melons consistently rate 12 or higher on the Brix scale, ensuring their flesh is exceptionally sweet with a subtle honeyed flavor and a hint of tartness. Their white flesh is crisp, dense, and highly aqueous, packed with sweetness and aromatic appeal. Their smooth rind has an ivory base with green striping and spots that make them visually distinct and appealing.
Dino melons are marketed in Great Britain as Snowball, a Christmas variety known for its white flesh and round shape. Popular as a healthy holiday treat, they serve as appetizers or desserts, offering a light alternative to heavier festive foods. Loved by children for their sweetness, they are often sliced into playful shapes, drizzled with yogurt, or used as creative serving bowls for spiked fruit punch.
