History
The melon (Cucumis melo) is not a fruit but an herbaceous plant native to tropical Africa. The fruit also called melon arrived in Martinique during the colonial period together with slaves from Africa. It later spread to the island and was cultivated in gardens and fed slaves.
Varieties
There are many varieties of melons. The fruit of wild origin did not exceed 30 to 50g but it has provided the basis for the definition of many varieties. Among melons consumed as fruit harvested at maturity, there are:
- Cantaloup charentais (variety with smooth skin grown in the West Indies)
- Muskmelon (cf. opposite picture) (its skin is marked ribs and flesh maybe salmon or yellow-green)
- Winter melon (its skin is young and green, its flesh is white and oval shape making it look like a rugby ball)
and melons consumed as a vegetable:
- Snake melon
- Melon phut (in India)
The round-shaped fruit has a beautiful beige more or less smooth white (the variety has smooth skin Martinique) with much comic green divisions. Inside, an edible orange pulp contains in his heart many glitches. Creeper ground produces fruit on the floor and yellow flowers with five petals.
The more sun there is, the faster the melon will ripen and be harvested, on the other hand in the event of severe weather, the plant will hardly produce fruit.
It is harvested at maturity when the sugar content and aromas are more developed.
Health benefits
Rich in vitamins A and C, the melon has many antioxidant properties. He participates in the growth and cell development. It helps in collagen production and wound healing.
With 95% water in its composition, melon quenches even the throats dry.
Melon is also a diuretic. It is poor in sugar, rich in water and low in calories (100 grams of fresh melon represents an energy value of 32 kilocalories). Its fiber promotes bowel movement.
Uses
In Martinique, it is mainly consumed naturally. It returned tremendously in the composition of a fruit salad. One can also make fritters, cocktails or sorbets. Note that you will see decorative sculptures of melon at gastronomic events.
Melon in French West Indies is harvested both for the local and national markets.
To choose the right melon, check its weight, the heavier it is and the flesh is dense. Feel also to verify that its fragrance is pronounced. Finally, check it crackled around the stems.