Kiwano Melon Agua Fresca

I am growing fruit, and a good amount of what I am growing is exotic, or unusual fruit. I cannot believe all the fruit that is out there that I have never heard of and tastes like nothing I have ever tasted. In the past I walked by the alien looking fruits, but now I am intrigued and want to taste them before Much of what I am growing I have never tasted. I watched YouTube videos of people trying strange fruits which helped me decide what I wanted to grow. I tell people that right now I have a “tasting garden”. If I like the fruit then I will plant it’s pair, which will double the yield of both trees.

While I was at the market a couple of days age I saw this dinosaur looking fruit the other day, the Kiwano melon, also known as the African horned cucumber or jelly melon. It is a member of the cucumber family. I did not know this at the time that I bought it. I bought it without any knowledge of it, and had to see what surprise was inside. Since it is called a melon I totally did not expect to see a jelly-like substance and so many seeds. These exotic fruits are pricey so I wasn’t wasting it. It had a strong smell of cucumber and it tasted like it too, but with a tart bitterness. I saw no way of getting around those seeds so I decided to make an Agua Fresca out of it. I love those fruity Agua Fresca juices at authentic Mexican places!

To make my Kiwano Agua Fresca, first cut the fruit in half. Scoop out the jelly and seeds. I used a serrated grapefruit spoon. Scoop the fruit into a 4-cup container.

Add in thin slices of one lime, and five or six sprigs of mint and fill the container to the top with filtered water. Cover this and refrigerate it for 5 hours or more.

While the Kiwano is getting good, bring to a boil a cup of sugar with a half cup of filtered water, and let it cool. When it is time to serve, strain everything through a colander, into another clean container and sweeten with the sugar syrup to taste. I liked it poured over crushed ice. I would love to have a Kiwano tree just to have this Agua Fresca everyday. The Kiwano seeds are edible, but those of us who subscribe to a Ray Peat lifestyle avoid seeds because of their PUFAs, but the seeds are high in vitamin E. The Kiwano jelly is rich in vitamins and minerals such as zinc, vitamin C, magnesium and lutein. I love getting my vitamins and minerals from colorful fruits like this, which nature grew in balance with other nutrients.