Hami melon

A specialty of Hami region in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and a national geographical indication product of China.

Hami melon is mainly produced in the Tuha Basin (the collective name of Turpan Basin and Hami Basin). It has different shapes, unique flavor, thick flesh, crisp and refreshing taste. Cantaloupe is rich in nutrients and has a sugar content of up to 21%. Hami's melons became a tribute melon species during the Yongping period of the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, it was used as a tribute by King Hami and was rewarded by Kangxi, so it was named Hami melon. At that time, Hami melons "were sent as tribute in previous years", "Melons are never more abundant in Hami", and "Melons are used as tributes only in Hami." Tracing back to its roots, cantaloupe originated from Shanshan County, Turpan.

Hami melon variety resources are very rich. According to different maturity periods, they are divided into early maturing, medium maturing and late maturing varieties. Early and mid-ripening ones are called summer melons, and late-ripening ones are called winter melons. The early-maturing varieties mainly include Huangdanzi, Naxigan, Yibaotang, Baozi Kekeqi, Shitian 401, etc., which are characterized by thin skin, fine flesh, and rich flavor. The medium-ripe varieties mainly have crispy and juicy red hearts, thick and delicate meat, and are fragrant and refreshing, so they are loved by people. The main late-maturing varieties include black eyebrows, dense and very dry, green hemp skin, dense and very dry, fort red, green skin and red flesh, green skin winter melon, yellow skin and white flesh Kekeqi, etc. The characteristics of "Black Eyebrow" and "Qing Ma Pi" are that the flesh of the melon is light blue. After storage, the meat gradually changes from crispy and hard to soft, juicy, sweet and mellow.