Foodstuff: Spiny Melon – Sybaritica

This is a rather interesting little fruit you may wish to try if you get the chance. I found it at our local supermarket labelled as a ‘Spiny Melon’ but it is also known as the ‘Horned Melon’, ‘Blow fish fruit’ and ‘Melano’. It is native to Africa but it is now being cultivated in the Antipodes, South America and also California, which is where, I suspect, mine was grown. To be honest, while I was glad to try something new, I can’t say I much enjoyed the experience…

Here is the fruit cut in cross-section. The interior consists of a very jelly-like pulp and lots of small seeds that are quite soft and can easily be eaten (although one source I consulted indicated that most people spit them out). The consistency is not really all that pleasant… It is a very soft jelly with a definite slimy quality that persists in the mouth for a good minute or two after you swallow. The effect, in fact, is a bit like having a mouthful of KY-Jelly… although I won’t entertain any questions as to how I am able to make that comparison.

The taste is not easy to describe, especially as it is very mild and quite bland. It has the slightly grassy notes of watermelon rind or cucumber but the aftertaste has the combined astringency and slight sweetness of a green banana. Coupled with the unappealing mouth-feel, as well as the price of nearly $9 for a single fruit, I don’t think I care to repeat the experience.

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