Kiwano – fresh and frozen

Description

The Kiwano has horn-like spines, hence the name “horned melon”. Ripe fruit has orange skin and lime green, jelly-like flesh with a refreshingly fruity taste, and texture similar to a passionfruit or pomegranate. The flavour is unusually compared to cucumber, banana and lemon/lime!

Kiwano is a traditional food plant in Africa. Along with the Gemsbok cucumber, and Tsamma (Citron melon) it is one of the few sources of water during the dry season in the Kalahari Desert. In northern Zimbabwe it is called gaka or gakachika, and is primarily used as a snack or salad, and rarely for decoration. It can be eaten at any stage of ripening, but when overripened, will burst forcefully to release seeds.

Some people also eat the peel, which is very rich in vitamin C and dietary fibre.

Health benefits include high in Vitamin A, Beta Carotene and Magnesium.