Honeydew Melons
Estimated Inventory, 5-6 ct : 36.06
This item was last sold on : 12/20/24
Description/Taste
Honeydew melons are small to medium fruits, averaging 15 to 22 centimeters in diameter and 4 to 8 pounds in weight, and have a round to oval shape with blunt, curved ends. The melon’s rind is smooth, firm, and semi-thick, ranging in color from green to white, yellow, or pale orange with maturity. The rind also develops a waxy, velvety surface with a slightly sticky consistency, indicating that the flesh has developed a high sugar content. Underneath the surface, the flesh appears in shades of pale green, white-green, and golden-orange hues, depending on the variety, and is thick, dense, and aqueous with a firm and crisp, succulent consistency. The flesh also encases a central cavity filled with white, stringy fibers and tan, oval seeds. Honeydew melons emit a faint, sweet aroma and will feel heavy for their size, yielding under gentle pressure around the blossom end when ripe. The melons contain a high sugar content of approximately 16 Brix, a measurement of sugar levels within the flesh, contributing to the melon’s delicate, sweet, floral, and subtly fruity flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Honeydew melons are generally available in the summer through mid-fall. The melons are also grown in both hemispheres, allowing commercial markets to import and export the melons for extended, year-round availability.
Current Facts
Honeydew melons, botanically classified as Cucumis melon var. inodorus, are a sweet muskmelon variety belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. The melons are also categorized as a winter melon, a descriptor used to showcase melon varieties with thick, hard skin, providing extended storage capabilities without the loss of flavor. Honeydew melons are the third most cultivated type of melon in the world, falling just behind watermelon and cantaloupe. There are two main types of Honeydew, White and Orange Honeydew, and these types vary only slightly in flavor, coloring, and appearance. There are also several cultivars of Honeydews in commercial markets, including Honey Star, Honey Gold, Dewlightful, Jade Delight, Summer Dew, Saturno, and Earlidew. Honeydew melons are also known by several names worldwide, including White Antibes, Wallace melon, Balian melon, Temptation melon, Chindire, and Hmazli. The melons have a mild, sweet, and subtly earthy flavor well suited for fresh, sweet and savory preparations. Honeydew melons are primarily consumed as a dessert cultivar and are favored for their juicy, succulent nature.
Nutritional Value
Honeydew melons are a good source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract and vitamin C to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation. The melons also provide potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, vitamin K to assist in faster wound healing, and contain other amounts of vitamin B6, magnesium, and folate.
Applications
Honeydew melons have a sweet, refreshing nature well suited for fresh preparations. The rind should be washed before opening, and the flesh can be sliced, tossed into green salads, balled and mixed into fruit salads, or consumed straight, out of hand. Honeydew melons can also be sprinkled with salt, lemon juice, or chile powder for added flavor, stirred into yogurt and cereal, wrapped in cured meats, or used as a fresh topping over pancakes and waffles. Halved portions of the melon can be filled with cottage cheese and consumed as a snack or breakfast dish, or the flesh can be blended into smoothies, shakes, fruit punches, or cocktails. Honeydew melons can be pureed and added to chilled soups, blended and frozen into popsicles and sorbet, chopped into a fresh salsa, or mixed with herbs as a side dish. In addition to fresh preparations, Honeydew melons can be cooked into sauces and jams or grilled for an additional flavor. The melons can also be dried into strips as a chewy snack, and the seeds can be roasted and lightly salted. In Asia, the rind is sometimes pickled for extended use. Honeydew melons pair well with fruit including coconut, fresh berries, mango, and kiwi, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, herbs such as basil, cilantro, mint, and parsley, ginger, cheeses such as ricotta, burrata, and feta, spinach, fennel, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Whole, unopened Honeydew melons should be ripened at room temperature, and the blossom end will yield slightly under pressure when mature. Sliced Honeydew melons will keep up to three days when stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Honeydew melons acquired their honey moniker from American plant breeder John E. Gauger. The melons were initially known in France as Melon d'Antibes Blanc d'Hiver or White Antibes Winter melon, but as the melons were slowly introduced to the United States, many of the melons were often unlabeled or given more commercial names. In 1911, the sweet melon was sent to a high-end New York hotel restaurant and served to dinner guests. One guest savored eating the unlabeled melon so much that he saved seeds from the fruit and mailed the seeds to John. E. Gauger for further research. Gauger was living at the time in Swink, Colorado, and was famous for his melon breeding and research. Gauger worked with the United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, to identify the variety, and in 1915, the USDA concluded that the unknown seeds were from a White Antibes Winter melon. Gauger renamed the melons to Honeydew as a more appealing name for American commercial markets. The new name was successful among American consumers and is still one of the primary names used for the variety worldwide.
Geography/History
Honeydew melons have been cultivated for thousands of years and are believed to have originated either in the Middle East, Western Asia, or West Africa. The melon’s origins remain unknown, but records of the melon were discovered in Ancient Egyptian tombs, dating back to 2400 BCE, proving the melon’s ancient existence. In the 15th century, Honeydew melons were introduced to Europe, primarily France and Algeria, and were cultivated in greenhouses. The melons were also brought to the New World through Spanish and Portuguese explorers and were planted in the United States. Honeydew melons thrive in semiarid, sunny climates and are grown worldwide. China and Turkey are the leading producers of the melons, followed by the United States in California and Arizona. Honeydew melons are also cultivated in Honduras, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Guatemala exported to American and European markets for year-round availability. Fresh Honeydew melons can be found through local markets, distributors, and grocers worldwide.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| The Crossings | Carlsbad CA | 760-444-1800 |
| Mission Bay Beach Club | San Diego CA | 858-201-7551 |
| Marriott Courtyard - Broadway | San Diego CA | 619-446-3008 |
| The Mission EV | San Diego CA | 619-232-7662 |
| UCSD Health East campus | San Diego CA | 619-578-3373 |
| University Club | San Diego CA | 619-234-5200 |
| La Valle Coastal Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5473 |
| Pizza Cassette | San Diego CA | 802-310-5601 |
| Hyatt Islandia | San Diego CA | 619-224-1234 |
| Sandbar Sports Grill | San Diego CA | 858-488-1274 |
| Brigantine Pt Loma | San Diego CA | 619-224-2871 |
| Bread & Cie Café | San Diego CA | 619-683-9322 |
| Polaris Supreme | San Diego CA | 619-390-7890 |
| Peohes | Coronado CA | 619-437-4474 |
| Chateau La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-459-4451 |
| Del Mar Country Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5995 |
| The Flavor Chef (Catering) | Vista CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Zanzibar at the Loft | La Jolla CA | 858-210-5476 |
| Barrel & Board | San Diego CA | 619-902-4646 |
| Stone Brewing-Liberty Station | San Diego CA | 619-269-2100 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Main Dining | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| Boujiemana | San Diego CA | 415-710-0510 |
| Catamaran | San Diego CA | 858-488-1081 |
| A & M catering | San Diego CA | 206-802-8320 |
| Bali Hai Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-222-1181 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
| Hilton Harbor Island | San Diego CA | 619-291-6700 |
| Rubicon Deli-UTC | San Diego CA | 858-877-9911 |
| US Grant Hotel Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Sheldons Service Station | La Mesa CA | 619-741-8577 |
| Rosewood Social | San Juan Capistrano CA | 669-243-8403 |
| Ketch Grill and Taps | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Huntress (Banquet) | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
| Mission Bay Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 858-488-0501 |
| Saint Mark Golf and Resort, LLC | San Marcos CA | 508-320-6644 |
| Green Dragon Tavern & Museum | Carlsbad CA | 760-797-5579 |
| Pacific Cafe & Catering (Medical Cntr Dr.) | La Jolla CA | 619-808-4087 |
| KI's | Encinitas CA | 760-586-8289 |
| The Monsaraz | San Diego CA | 858-760-6228 |
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| Humphrey's | San Diego CA | 619-224-3577 |
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| El Sueno | San Diego CA | 619-972-6286 |
| Red Tail Catering | San Marcos CA | 858-605-8219 |
| Edgewater Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-7581 |
| Kona Kai Resort and Marina | San Diego CA | 619-221-8000 |
| Sheraton Carlsbad (20/20) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| Coronado Yacht Club | Coronado CA | 619-435-1848 |
| Lauberge Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-259-1515 |
| Third Corner Ocean Beach | San Diego CA | 619-223-2700 |
| Panama 66 | San Diego CA | 619-206-6352 |
| The Mission MB | San Diego CA | 858-488-9060 |
| Swan Bar | San Diego CA | 619-363-2337 |
| The Duck Dive - Bar | San Diego CA | 858-273-3825 |
| The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
| Moxy San Diego Gaslamp | San Diego CA | 619-376-1850 |
| Asti Ristorante | San Diego CA | 619-232-8844 |
| The Farm Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-5585 |
| Urban Kitchen Catering | San Diego CA | 619-276-8803 |
| Reata Glen | Ladera Ranch CA | 949-545-2250 |
| The Guild Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-764-5108 |
| Top of the Market | San Diego CA | 619-234-4867 |
| Carte Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-365-1858 |
| Harbor View Hotel Ventures, LLC | San Diego CA | 619-239-6800 |
| C 2 C | San Diego CA | 619-972-9345 |
| Marriott Gaslamp | San Diego CA | 619-696-0234 x6051 |
| Sheraton Carlsbad (Banquets) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-380-9840 |
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| Le Papagayo (Encinitas) | Encinitas CA | 760-944-8252 |
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| Hilton Garden Inn - Homewood Suites San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-696-6300 |
| Inn at Rancho Santa Fe (Banquet) | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
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| The Santaluz Club Inc - Bistro Kitchen | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
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| Madi | San Diego CA | 320-491-1217 |
| JRDN Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-270-5736 |
| Town & Country San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-291-7131 |
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| Trust Restaurant | San Diego CA | 609-780-7572 |
| Pacifica Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-792-0505 |
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| Drift Cafe | San Diego CA | 858-263-4298 |
| Venissimo Cheese Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-847-9616 |
| Portside Pier (Brigantine) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District | El Cajon CA | 619-644-7585 |
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| Sheraton Carlsbad (Distribution Center) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| Pacific Regent La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-597-8008 |
| La Jolla Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-454-9601 |
| Noble House Hotels & Resorts | San Diego CA | 619-276-4010 |
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| Continental Catering Inc | La Mesa CA | 907-738-9264 |
| Graze | San Diego CA | 619-839-9852 |
| Marriott Marquis North Tower | San Diego CA | 619-234-1500 |
| The Lion Share | San Diego CA | 619-564-6924 |
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| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-761-1269 |
| La Costa Resort & Spa Main Kitchen | Carlsbad CA | 760-930-7063 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Banquet | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| The Mission NP | San Diego CA | 619-220-8992 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Honeydew Melons. One
is easiest, three is harder.
