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KIWANO OR HORNED MELON: EDIBLE, NUTRITIOUS AND HEALTH-GIVING: HISTORY, USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF HORNED MELONS


HORNED MELON, KIWANO, CUCUMIS METULIFERUS
The horned melon is a native of southern Africa, and the World Health Organization hopes that it will become a more acceptable food for the people who are suffering from malnutrition in the still-developing world.
  The horned melon was taken to Australia and New Zealand in the 1930s and was renamed the kiwano because of its slight internal resemblance to the kiwi fruit, to which it is no relation. As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family it is related to the pumpkin, cucumbers, courgettes, butternut squash, bottle gourds, petha or ash gourd, melons, watermelons and marrows. It is possible that it was renamed kiwano so that the name would make it more appealing to consumers. The name Horned melon may have made it a flop in the market as happened to the soursop.
  The tribal peoples in its native countries only eat it roasted, although they use the boiled roots to treat gonorrhoea, and eat the boiled leaves as we would spinach. A decoction of the root is given to women after childbirth for pain relief, and the leaves are sometimes eaten mixed with maize or corn meal. The pounded roots are mixed with fat and used to cover the body in the belief that this will keep ghosts and evil spirits at bay.
  The seeds and pulp of the kiwano are very nutritious as the seeds contain Vitamin A in the form of carotenoids such as Beta-carotene, which promotes the health of the eyes, and skin as well as having free-radical scavenging properties and boosting the immune system. The seeds contain oleic and linoleic fatty acids too making them very good for blood pressure and overall health.
  The fruit is a good source of vitamin C, potassium and iron and also contains vitamins B1, B2 and B3, along with the minerals magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, copper, calcium and sodium. The organic vitamin E found in the fruit is a good source of free-radical scavenging antioxidants, so this fruit is good for protection against cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
  If you find one in your local supermarket treat it as you would a passion fruit. You can cut the melon in half and scoop out the seeds and blend them and the pulp to make a refreshing drink, adding lime or lemon juice and honey to enhance the flavour if you want to. You could simply scoop out the flesh and pour it over natural yoghurt or ice cream, and it is said that the seeds can taste like bananas, melon, lime, or even cucumber.
  The Latin name for this fruit, metuliferus, comes from two words, metula meaning little pyramid and ferus meaning bearing; these names refer to the spiny skin or the ‘horns’ on this melon. It is ripe when the skin is bright orange, and may be stored at room temperature for best nutrition, but can also be stored in the fridge.
  Why not try it and let us know what you think?
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17 comments:

  1. Anonymous20 March 2013 at 06:25

    i like this vegatbleeeeeeee

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous5 November 2013 at 12:20

      There aren't any in Australia and everytime i see it on videos i always wish i could pull it right out of my screen and eat it

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  2. Anonymous17 April 2013 at 11:21

    It tasted like kiwi to me.

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  3. Anonymous4 May 2013 at 21:30

    In Africa, we also eat this melon raw with salt, just as one would a cucumber. You can slice it and sprinkle a little salt, and enjoy.

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  4. Anonymous27 August 2013 at 16:15

    Not bad. But could have been better

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  5. Unknown17 September 2013 at 03:45

    what native countries do the ritual with root and fat mixture and putting it on the bodies?

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  6. Anonymous7 January 2014 at 15:12

    This the best fruit one can have with all nutrients

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  7. Anonymous26 February 2014 at 20:13

    I take this fruit almost daily with my family to me I take it to prevent heartburn n sour throght I really fell good after taking it

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  8. Anonymous28 March 2014 at 06:45

    Put all but the skin into my Vitamix with half a frozen ripe banana. Delicious, refreshing, light sorbet.

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  9. Anonymous7 April 2014 at 09:06

    I'm from Zimbabwe and no we don't cook magaka nor do we use it for the 'ritual' purposes mentioned. I refuse to call it all the western name westerners have decided to call this fruit. They are called gaka or magaka. I'm sick and tired of the western culture changing native names to suit their own tongue! Gaka, gaka, gaka!!!

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  10. Anonymous10 July 2014 at 23:49

    I enjoy Kiwano as a mixed fruit salad. Mixing it wit a variety of fruits makes it sweeter as it goes down one's palette.

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  11. Maina Henry23 July 2015 at 12:42

    When i run out of HBP tablets i usually run for one as alternatives and it works very well. They are in plenty here in kenya nowadays as people started growing them.

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  12. Anonymous29 December 2015 at 09:20

    Can you grow this fruit in America?

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  13. Anonymous29 December 2015 at 09:22

    I live in north Carolina US and grow anything and everything I can I want to grow this,is it hard to grow? Also can I grow it here or so I need to grow it in a green house type setting?

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  14. in the vanguard3 July 2018 at 07:45

    Please add a "search widget" so we can do a search on your fine site? It's real easy. Login to "blogger.com"; Go to "Layout" in your site's left column; Then go to this layout's Right Column; There, click on "Add a Gadget". You'll see this item, about the 3rd down in the list, called "Blog Search". That should do it. It's a shame because now it would be very difficult to find something from all that you've written in the past.

    ReplyDelete