Kiwano - Horned Melon
Country of Origin - Africa
Class / Cat - Cat. 1 Premium Quality
Average Weight - 211 Grams per unit
Introduction
Kiwano is an exotic vine fruit from Africa, which is known as horned melon, jelly melon, or spiked melon. Its scientific name is Cucumis metuliferus and it belongs to the cucumber and melon family, Cucurbitaceae. The fruit when ripe has orange skin and lime green and covered in small spiny projections or horns. The inner flesh is jelly-like with a lime green yellow substance that houses a multitude of edible seeds and a refreshingly fruity taste. Kiwano -like all fruits- has high water content and during the dry season in the Kalahari Desert it serves also as a source of water apart from fruit. Apart from its high water content, kiwano is rich in vitamin A, beta carotene and magnesium. The skin is edible, which is very rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber.
History & Regions
Kiwano is an annual fruit which means that it completes its life cycle in one year. It is originated from Africa but it can be found in temperate areas around the world today. Kiwano is native to the semi-arid climates of central and southern Africa. Due to its increased popularity, kiwano is now grown in New Zealand, Australia, Israel, United States, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Chile.
Flavours & Texture
Kiwano flavour has a refreshingly fruity taste which tastes like a combination of banana, cucumber and lime or a combination of banana and passion fruit. Its texture is similar to passionfruit or pomegranate.
Preparation
Kiwano is edible can be eaten raw in a fruit salad or as a side dish along with roasted meat. It has lots of seeds which are also edible but it should be mentioned that due to its generally low carbohydrate content, some people prefer to add a bit of extra sugar. Kiwano juice is used for the preparation of cocktails, smoothies, sauces and dressings.
Nutritional Value
The table below has been extracted from the USDA food composition databases. This is the nutrition value of a single kiwano approximately 200 grams. It is low in calories, fat and carbohydrates and it has a relatively high amount of proteins.
|
Calories |
92 kCal |
|
Fat |
2.6 grams |
|
Carbohydrates |
16 grams |
|
Protein |
3.7 grams |
|
Vitamin C |
18% of the RDI |
|
Vitamin A |
6% of the RDI |
|
Vitamin B6 |
7% of the RDI |
|
Magnesium |
21% of the RDI |
|
Iron |
13% of the RDI |
|
Phosphorus |
8% of the RDI |
|
Zinc |
7% of the RDI |
|
Potassium |
5% of the RDI |
|
Calcium |
3% of the RDI |
SHIPPING
Choose your desired delivery date at the checkout, available delivery dates will be displayed at checkout stage. All orders are dispatched via DHL on a 24hr Next Working Day service. If no date is selected your order will be dispatched at the next available date.
We offer Free Next Working Day Delivery on all orders over £75 including our selection boxes.
Our shipping rates are as follows:-
England - £6.95
Scotland - £9.95
Northern Ireland - £9.95
Customers are responsible for being present at the shipping address provided on the date selected at checkout. Exotic Fruits are not responsible for any missed or attempted deliveries that must be rearranged by the customer.
All orders are packed in cardboard boxes with a biodegradable packing pellets to protect the fruit during transit, unfortunately we do not offer a gift wrapping or send the fruit in a gift basket as this may cause toe bruise during transit..
RETURNS
Let's start by stating the obvious. Since our produce is perishable we cannot accept returns.
That said, we want every customer to be happy so we do offer vouchers, refunds and replacements at our sole discretion if your fruit has arrived inedible. If you would like to report an item which has become damaged or perished during transit, please:- We are not responsible for products that spoil if there is not someone to receive your delivery on the date that you request it, full tracking is provided and can be requested anytime after dispatch.
