I absolutely love fruit, especially melons. From the amazing Korean melon to the watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, Piel de Sapo/Santa Claus melon, and Canary melon. In this article, I talk all about the Gaya Melon, or Ivory Gaya melon, or it is also known as the snowball melon, dragon egg melon, dino melon, and ghost melon.
Learn all about the awesome Gaya melon, where it comes from and where it grows, what the nutritional benefits are, how to eat it, and what it tastes like. One of my favorite all-time fruits. On to the information!
Where does the Gaya Melon come from and where does it grow?
The Gaya melon originated in Japan and is a honeydew cultivar. It is part of the muskmelon family. They are a little bit smaller than a cantaloupe and have ivory skin/rind with streaks of green. They are particularly heavy for their size. and have a long shelf life after picking.
Although they come from Japan, they are now grown in China, Korea, South America, Mexico, and especially in Southern California among other places. This is not a definitive list of where this melon grows. You can also find them in supermarkets in Australia. They thrive in warm sunny conditions.
Here in Arizona, I find mine at the local Asian/International supermarket. I have yet to find them at my normal supermarket.
As far as the price goes, they aren’t that expensive. I was able to find them for about $2.50 each. The seeds can be planted from the melon. Just dry them first, before planting them. Grow them like you would honeydew and other melons.
What are their nutritional benefits?
The Gaya melon is loaded with nutrients just like other melons. They are:
- High in Vitamin A
- High in Vitamin C
- Help the immune system
- Good source of fiber which aids digestion
- Rich in antioxidants
- Good source of potassium
You can find more information on the health benefits here.
How to eat Gaya melon
To tell if the Gaya melon is ripe, there should be a little bit of give when you press on the blossom or stem ends. The ends may smell fruity as well. Also, they should feel heavy for their size.
There are many ways to eat this melon. You can eat it like you would other melons. Cut it in half and scoop out the seeds. Save the seeds and try planting them if you like.
You don’t eat the seeds like you do the Korean Melon. You can eat half now and save the other half if you like. Just wrap it up in a plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. Uncut, the Gaya melon will last several days.
Now just use a spoon and scoop out the flesh if you like. Or use a melon baller and make balls of Gaya melon to put in a fruit salad.
NOTE: The rind/skin/peel is edible. It is thinner than other melons and crunchy and full of nutrients. It may be off-putting to some people, so you can certainly just eat around it. But you can certainly eat it as well.
Also, you can certainly just slice it, and then pick it up and eat it, which is a classic way to serve melons. So many different ways you can eat it.
Just treat it the same way you would other melons.
What does the Gaya melon or Snowball melon taste like?
The first thing I noticed when biting into the Gaya melon is that it is extremely juicy and nice and sweet. It is very refreshing. It is soft and easy to eat and a little crisper as you get closer to the rind, which is crunchy. There seems to be a hint of floral notes. It tastes very similar to honeydew. If you love honeydew, you will love this fruit!
Some people say there is a hint/nuance of honey and pear flavor as well.
This is one incredible melon and one of my absolute favorites. I hope you get the chance to try one out. Leave a comment down below and let me know if you have tried one and if you like them.
Watch my Gaya melon video!
Here are other fruit videos you may be interested in:
Love it and saving the skin to juice. Really enjoyed it and will try again!
Awesome!! Glad you tried the Gaya melon and liked it.