Know More About Cucamelon- Tangy Mexican Sour Gherkin

Also known as Mexican sour gherkin or mouse melon, cucamelon tastes sour, tangy & looks insanely adorable. Cucamelon can be eaten raw, pickled, stir fried, sliced in salads, chopped into salsa and perfect as a cocktail garnish as well. As a matter of fact, cocktail lovers can spear a cucamelon instead of an olive and pop it in martinis. Moreover, if you are intrigued and want to know what do cucamelons look like, here is an image for reference. So, lets know more about cucamelon, tangy Mexican sour gherkin.

What are cucamelon? 

Cucamelons (Scientific name: Melothria scabra) are also known as Mexican Sour Gherkin or Sandiita, which means little watermelon in Spanish is native to Mexico and Central America and have been part of the Aztec community’s diet. Moreover, cucamelon is not a hybrid. The fruit is the size of a grape when it is ready to be plucked from the vine and taste like cucumbers with slight citrus notes. 

What does cucamelon taste like?

A little more sweeter than cucumbers but with a slight sour taste. 

How to grow cucamelon?

Cucamelon plant is a heat loving tropical vining plant but do not require a lot of room. Hence, this  makes them ideal to grow in a container and can be supported with canes. The plant can be quite prolific, grows 4 feet to 5 feet tall. In addition, they are drought, pest and disease resistant. These attributes are quite perfect for the weather and most importantly space constraints face by many Indian cities.

Cucamelon health benefits:

The fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, micro-nutrients, anti-oxidants, which help in rejuvenating cells, tissues and organs. They also contain simple sugars and fiber which are essential for optimizing our health.

Where to buy cucamelon seeds:

Although the seeds are hard to procure in India, many online retailers/ specialized nurseries sell these.

Also read: How to grow microgreens at home