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This Saturday, I went to the St. Lawrence market just down the street from where I live. I chose to go there because I have already been there several times and am always satisfied with the fresh, Ontario produce that I come home with. It's a cool set-up and I like the way that I can freely roam around and look at all the diverse products that the vendors are selling. To select a unique fruit to buy, I strolled around the market and looked for anything unfamiliar looking. I stumbled upon the Jelly melon, asked the vendor about it and decided to purchase one for a mere $2.00. Upon researching this funny-looking fruit, I learned that it also goes by many different names such as Horn melon, kiwano, and blowfish fruit among others. Having origins from Kalahari, Africa, it is mainly produced in New Zealand in the summer months. It is a fruit created from the Cucumis metuliferus traveling vine plant, and it is part of the Cucurbitaceae family alongside other melons, cucumbers and squashes (specialtyproduce.com, 2014). I got mine for a steal, however they usually range from$5-10 on the market, depending where you go. When it comes to eat and cooking this fruit, I would keep it simple and make a vinaigrette out of it to put on a salad, as it is very acidic and would emulsify well with some olive oil and spices. I did not enjoy how many seeds were in it, so I would strain them out.
The taste of the kiwano was pretty sour, and reminded me of a mix between an unripe banana and a lime. It smelled fairly mild but lime-like, and its aggressive exterior continuously poked me with its sharp spikes as I shook it only to hear nothing, then observed the bright green, seed-filled interior.
This was a fun experience and I will continue to go to St. Lawrence Market as long as it is open. I prefer supporting local, Ontario farmers and their deliciously fresh produce over a grocery store any day. /uploads/3/8/9/6/38962229/img_4883.mov
The taste of the kiwano was pretty sour, and reminded me of a mix between an unripe banana and a lime. It smelled fairly mild but lime-like, and its aggressive exterior continuously poked me with its sharp spikes as I shook it only to hear nothing, then observed the bright green, seed-filled interior.
This was a fun experience and I will continue to go to St. Lawrence Market as long as it is open. I prefer supporting local, Ontario farmers and their deliciously fresh produce over a grocery store any day. /uploads/3/8/9/6/38962229/img_4883.mov