Orange Musk Melon 1.5kg

What is Ikka Souden Orange Melon?
Ikka Souden is a prestigious orange-fleshed musk melon from Kochi, grown by the rare method of one melon per plant, so the whole plant's nutrients go into a single fruit for maximum sweetness. Out of an annual yield of around 100,000 melons, only the ones that meet strict standards for taste, shape, and netting are selected. Each melon is 1.4–1.5kg.

The orange flesh sets it apart from the usual green musk melons — a robust, concentrated sweetness, a fragrant aroma, and almost none of the faint bitterness near the rind that other melons can have. Grown with organic fertilizer and ripened for flavor, it's as much a gift as a fruit.

Specifications

When it's ripe

A musk melon ships firm and ripens at room temperature. Two signs tell you it's ready: the stem (the T-shaped vine on top) dries out — the base stays green while the tips go brown — and the bottom softens, giving slightly when you press it with a thumb. Once ripe, chill it a few hours before serving and eat within a day or two.

How to cut & enjoy

Cut off the stem, then slice the melon in half top-to-bottom rather than across — the bottom is the sweetest part, and cutting lengthwise gives every piece an even share. Scoop out the seeds and pulp (strain the pulp through a sieve for pure melon juice), cut each half into quarters, run the knife between skin and flesh, then slice into wedges. Serve well chilled as is, with prosciutto, over ice cream, or as a fruit course.

Pairing notes — on its own well chilled, with prosciutto, over vanilla ice cream, or with a sparkling wine.