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I couldn’t pass up this fruit when I saw it at Meijer. I didn’t know anything about it, other than the fact that with a good chain, it could be a mace.

The fruit is called a Kiwano Horned Melon. I wonder how much the spines are toned down after picking. They are still seriously sharp as I picked this up.

I dropped it into a plastic bag and the spines poked through the bag until the bag hit the main body. This fruit isn’t cheap, but I’m always up for an experience.

I lopped off a little of the top, easily enough. The outer skin was fairly soft, where spikes were not present. Inside, the fruit contains green transparent sacks, each holding a seed. The fruit looks so moist that I punctured the opposite side and turned the fruit upside down to drain out some of the juice. Nothing came out. But it looked so moist.

I cut the fruit in half, longitudinally. The color is an odd lime green. With all the little sacs, it almost looks like a Kiwi. I’m guessing that this is part of the Kiwano naming. I cut one of these halves again. I decided to try to just suck on the piece. It felt like some sort of cannon battery firing into my mouth, as the sacs let loose. The sacs seems like they are full of water, but you can’t pop them and get any fluid out. It is like an extremely soft gummi bear. You can’t get water out, you can only cut the sac into a smaller piece. It is very strange.

Yeah, but how does it taste? It is a cross between a banana and a slight cucumber flavor. But the flavor isn’t very strong. The seeds feel and taste like a cucumber seed. It really doesn’t have a great flavor, and the texture is just strange. Not a bad experience, but I had to wonder why you would want to eat this. Was there something I was missing?

I started doing some research. I learned that my method of cutting it isn’t the “proper” way. You are supposed to cut it in half transversely, as you would slice a cucumber into circle. Then squeeze the fruit half, while you suck on the end. If you can’t handle eating the seeds, lightly bite on them with your teeth as you suck. This will pull the sac from out around the seed and you can spit out the seed.

I’m thinking the only reason this is sold in supermarkets is for people like me to buy it. The best thing about it is the visuals of the outside and after the first cut. It is all downhill from there. My philosophy for food is that I will try anything at least once, if there isn’t high probability of death. This rules out a few things, such as blowfish and other potentially deadly foods, but makes me try most things.  I’m glad I bought it, as it was a fun experience.  I don’t think I’ll get another though.

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