Origin, Growth Environment and Varieties of Hami melon

When I talk about Hami melon, I will think of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Hami melon is known as the "king of melons". Did you know that?

cantaloupe

Hami melon is a variety of musk melon, known as the "king of melons". It has a sugar content of about 15%, tastes as sweet as honey, and has a unique fragrance. It is well-known both at home and abroad. Hami melon is rich in nutrients, containing protein, dietary fiber, carotene, pectin, sugar, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and other nutrients. Hami melon also has the functions of promoting urination, quenching thirst, eliminating irritability and heat, and preventing heatstroke. It can cure symptoms such as fever, heatstroke, thirst, urinary tract infection, and mouth and nose sores. If you often feel physically and mentally tired, restless or have bad breath, eating Hami melon can improve it.

The book "Journey to the West by Changchun Zhenren" written in 1228 mentioned Hami melons in Xinjiang for the first time, praising them as "sweet melons as big as pillows, with a fragrance that is unprecedented in China". Since the 17th century, Hami melons have been listed as tribute to Xinjiang. The Qing Dynasty's "Huijiangsou" records: "Since Emperor Kangxi, Ha Yi surrendered, this melon has been offered as tribute and is called Hami melon." Xinjiang has a history of more than 4,000 years of Hami melon cultivation and is one of the world's melon planting resource bases. Today, Hami melons have been introduced to many places in China and to countries such as Japan.

Origin

Hami melons are produced in Xinjiang and Dunhuang, Gansu, China. Except for a few high-altitude and cold areas, most areas in Xinjiang produce Hami melons. The best quality Hami melons are produced in Kashgar County, Hami and Turpan Basin in southern Xinjiang.

Growth environment

Hami melon has very high requirements for the environment, and must meet many natural conditions such as high temperature in summer, dry air, little rain, long sunshine hours, and large temperature difference between day and night.

variety

There are more than 180 varieties of Hami melons, with a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and flesh colors. The big ones are like cannonballs, weighing more than ten kilograms; the small ones are like coconuts, weighing less than one kilogram. The melons are mostly oval in shape, with yellow, green, brown, white, and other skin colors, and various patterns on the skin. The flesh color is milky white, yellowish; orange-red or emerald green. In addition, there are early-maturing summer melons and late-maturing winter melons. Common and famous varieties include Naxigan and Kokochi.