Cucamelons: Tangy, Grape-Sized Hybrids Of Cucumbers And Melons

Here at HEXAPOLIS, we have dedicated several pages on bizarre creatures that are at the same time strangely memorable. With the exception of a post on China’s artificially modified fruits and vegetables, like the human baby-shaped pears and square melons, our focus has largely remained confined to fascinatingly exotic land and sea animals. Until now, that is.

Meet cucamelon (Melothria scabra), an amazingly outlandish fruit that looks like a grape-sized cucumber. Also known mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkins and sandiita (meaning ‘little watermelon’), these wonderfully unique edibles are native to Central America and Mexico, where they are being grown as domesticated crops for centuries now.

Today, cucamelons are easily available at farmers markets, and can even be grown in your backyard. These bite-sized fruit are quite similar to cucumbers, both in taste and texture, but with a additional touch of tangy sourness. Wondering how exactly they can be eaten? Simply incorporate these miniature cucumbers into your salads, like these recipes right here.