The Cucumis Melo L., better known as melon, hails from the Persian valley on the Mediterranean and was brought to Indonesia in 1970. In that era, melon was a prestigious and very expensive fruit that was only consumed by upper class. Fortunately, the fruit is now no longer as expensive as before. We can now easily buy melons in the supermarket or even at the local traditional market. A ripe and sweet melon weighs 1.3 to 2.5 kilograms. The heavier the fruit, the sweeter the taste. A ripe melon will give off a very nice fragrance.

There are several musk melon varieties, and we are going to discuss some of the well known.

Melon Sky Rocket
One of the most widely planted kind of melon in Indonesia, originally this fruit’s seeds come from Germany and Taiwan.  They are round with thick skin and green in color. The fruit’s flesh tastes sweet and is greenish-yellow. It has a softer texture and is watery, so it is usually consumed as fruit juice. However, it can also be eaten directly.

Rock Melon
Rock melon (cantaloupe) has skin that is rough in texture. Usually, its bright orange flesh is sweet and has a pleasant fragrance. Its leaves remain green even though the fruit is ripe, so they can be used as animal feed.

Golden Melon
This fruit gets its name from its yellow skin color. There are two kinds of golden melons: the golden light melon, which is round, and the Langkawi melon, which is oval-shaped. Their texture is crispy, making them perfect for salads.

Red Sweet Melon
These have a round shape with thick skin that has prominent, wide strokes. Its flesh is reddish yellow, and if ripe, it will feel heavier. The red sweet melon has a fragrant aroma. It is delicious when eaten straight away.

Numerous Benefits of Musk Melon
– Melons have anti-aging benefits due to their collagen content, which helps reduce the effects of aging
– Melons are suitable for weight loss because they contain more than 90 percent water and has a low calorie content. Also, an average melon’s sugar content is only 14 grams
– Musk melon is rich in vitamin B-6, which works as a co-enzyme and helps activate chemical processes
– The carotenoids content in melons can reduce the risk of cancer, especially lung cancer

Consuming Melons While Fasting
Melons are good to consume for suhoor (predown meal) because of their vitamin C content, which helps boost the immune system. During fasting, our immune system may drop because of mealtime changes. The vitamin B-6 in melon stimulates the brain to release serotonin, which helps regulate one’s mood and promotes better sleep. Thus, consuming melons during iftar will help you sleep tightly at night.