Sweet Beauty Watermelon
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Sweet Beauty watermelons are a smaller varietal, averaging 12 to 13 centimeters in diameter and 27 to 28 centimeters in length, and have an elongated, elliptical to oval shape with blunt, curved ends. The fruits commonly weigh 3 to 4 kilograms, and the rind is thin, smooth, taut, and tough. The surface showcases a vivid green base covered in prominent, clear, dark green striping. The striping is unique on each fruit and may display solid to broken lines. Underneath the surface, the red-pink flesh is brightly colored, airy, aqueous, crisp, tender, and succulent. The flesh also encases a few dark brown-black seeds. Select watermelons that feel heavy for their size and have a yellow spot on their undersides if grown on the ground. White spots may indicate the fruit was harvested too early. Sweet Beauty watermelons are consumed raw once ripe and release a green and grassy aroma unopened. When sliced, the flesh secretes a sweet scent and has a high sugar content, between 12 to 14 degrees Brix. Sweet Beauty watermelons have a refreshing, sweet, but not overly saccharine, mild, and subtly fruity taste.
Seasons/Availability
Sweet Beauty watermelons are typically available from April to August in Taiwan, with a peak season in May and June.
Current Facts
Sweet Beauty watermelons, botanically classified as Citrullus lanatus, are a Taiwanese variety belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. The fruits grow on herbaceous, vining plants and are an early-maturing variety, being ready for harvest approximately 70 to 85 days after sowing. Sweet Beauty watermelons are a productive cultivar valued for their small size, juicy flesh, and sweet taste. The fruits also have thin but tough skin, allowing them to be transported across Taiwan for increased sales during the summer. Sweet Beauty watermelons are known by several names due to translations from Chinese, including Sweet Man, Sweet Person, and Sweet Beauty. In some growing regions throughout Taiwan, Sweet Beauty watermelon vines are allowed to climb, leading the fruits to be grown in the air. Hanging fruits produce a more even, uniform shape and display a brighter-colored rind. The variety is also grown using traditional methods on the ground. These fruits may showcase a small yellow spot, called the belly, on one side where it sat on the ground during cultivation. Sweet Beauty watermelons are an everyday, smaller-sized variety sold throughout the summer in Taiwanese markets and are valued for their compact nature for easier transport, handling, and zero-waste nature.
Nutritional Value
Sweet Beauty watermelons are a source of potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, vitamin A to maintain healthy organs, and calcium to protect bones and teeth. The fruits also provide magnesium to control nerve functions, fiber to regulate the digestive tract, iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, and other nutrients, including zinc, phosphorus, and B vitamins. The red coloring in the flesh indicates the presence of lycopene, a carotenoid and organic pigment that has antioxidant properties to guard the cells against the damage caused by free radicals and reduce inflammation. In Taiwan, watermelons are consumed for their hydrating nature and are believed to help lower blood pressure and increase digestion. The white portion of the rind is said to contain vitamin C to strengthen the immune system and is sometimes rubbed on sunburns as a natural heat reliever.
Applications
Sweet Beauty watermelons have a mild, sweet, and refreshing taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The petite fruits are favored for slicing and eating out of hand, and the flesh is savored for its crisp, juicy, and succulent consistency. Sweet Beauty watermelons can also be sliced and tossed with fresh herbs in salads, diced into salsas and slaws, or served on appetizer platters. In Taiwan, watermelons are popularly blended into various drinks as a reprieve from heat on summer days. Watermelons can be combined with honey and milk, mixed with Sprite as a spritzer, blended with other fruits as a smoothie, or stirred into ice. Watermelon flesh can also be balled and dropped into drinks, or the juice can be frozen into flavorful ice cubes. In addition to beverages, Sweet Beauty watermelons can be made into jellies, used to flavor shaved ice, or pureed or frozen into sherbet and ice cream. Watermelons can also be incorporated into chilled soups, grilled and marinated as a savory alternative to steak, or added to sauces. Beyond the pink-red flesh, the rind is edible and is often stir-fried, boiled into soups, or fried. Pickled watermelon rind is seasoned with soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and vinegar and is served with bell peppers. The rind can also be sliced into thin strips and candied as a chewy snack. Sweet Beauty watermelons pair well with herbs such as mint, parsley, and cilantro, avocado, other fruits including kiwi, mango, berries, and guava, balsamic vinegar, and cheeses such as feta, mozzarella, and goat. Whole, unopened Sweet Beauty watermelons will keep for several weeks when stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. It is recommended that the fruits be consumed soon after purchase for the best quality and flavor.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Watermelons are celebrated through an annual festival held in Yunlin County, one of the top melon-producing regions in Taiwan. The celebration has been held for over ten years and two festivals officially combined in 2023 to form one large gathering. The united festival is known as the Erlun Watermelon Festival and is held at the beginning of May each year to kick off the summer and watermelon season. The festival attracts visitors from across Taiwan and features various activities to involve growers and the public. In 2023, local watermelon growers provided over 10,000 kilograms of free watermelon to attendees, and other edible treats, such as melon-shaped bread, were also offered as a visiting incentive. Beyond watermelon sampling, growers sold freshly harvested fruits, held a watermelon eating competition, hosted cooking demonstrations, showcased fruit carvings, and even held a contest for the heaviest watermelon. There were also vendors selling watermelon-themed drinks and snacks, including ice cream and sodas. Yunlin County officials hope the festival promotes the locally produced fruits, including smaller varieties such as Sweet Beauty, and helps to raise awareness of the watermelon industry.
Geography/History
Sweet Beauty watermelons are native to Taiwan and were developed in the late 20th century. Watermelons, in general, were believed to have been introduced in Taiwan during the Ming Dynasty, from 1368 to 1644 CE, and were first cultivated sometime around 1717 CE. Production was initially low, but it slowly increased over time as the Fengshan Branch of the Agricultural Experimental Institute began breeding new varieties as a part of an improvement program in the early 20th century. By 1955, breeding programs were introducing new varieties from around the world into Taiwan and were selectively crossbreeding to create cultivars suited for the island’s tropical climate. The Fengshan Branch of the Agricultural Experiment Institute released several new varieties in the mid-20th century, and in 1968, a breeding company called Nongyou, also written as Known-You Seedling Company, was established by Chen Wenyu. This company is responsible for many of the successful watermelon cultivars grown in Taiwan and was the breeder behind Sweet Beauty watermelons in the late 20th century. Today, Sweet Beauty watermelons are sold under many names in local markets and are produced in all major watermelon-growing regions throughout Taiwan, including Yunlin, Hualien, Pingtung, Changhua, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. When in season, the fruits are sold through local markets, grocers, and wholesalers. The Sweet Beauty watermelons in the photograph above were sourced through local markets in Taipei, Taiwan.
