What Is the Spiky Kiwano Fruit (aka Horned Melon)?

Last updated: August 9, 2023

Ever since I discovered dragon fruit, I have been on the hunt for more exotic fruits that we can’t easily find in the major supermarkets.

I recently stumbled upon the kiwano fruit, otherwise known as kiwano melon or horned melon. This odd-looking fruit goes by many names, and its unusual, spiky appearance immediately caught my attention when I first saw it.

Without knowing what it actually was, I decided to buy it so I could try it out. And I must say that I was pretty surprised by its flavors and texture.

So, what exactly is this strange fruit with spikes? And what are some of the nutritional benefits? Let’s find out more about the unique kiwano!

The kiwano is indeed a fascinating little piece of fruit. Yes, it’s a fruit, not a vegetable. The spiky, yellow/orange skin of kiwano melons will immediately grab your attention.

And when you cut one open, the soft and bright green flesh may surprise you even more.

The fruit is native to southern and central Africa, but has also been grown in New Zealand, Australia, and parts of the USA in more recent times.

As you can see in the image below, the inside of this fruit looks very similar to the inside of a cucumber. But the outside looks more like a spiky melon.

So what is kiwano? A cucumber, a melon, or both? It seems as if this fruit is struggling with an identity crisis, but the kiwano is actually a member of the melon family and the cucumber family.

The inside of the fruit is interesting. You’ll notice that it’s full of seeds, and these seeds are actually edible. The texture around the seeds is like green jelly, which may taste a bit weird the first time you eat it.

What Does It Taste Like?

So, what does horned melon taste like?

The general opinion is that it tastes like a mix of cucumber, zucchini, kiwifruit, and banana. I would say that that is about right, but I would like to add cantaloupe into that mix.

I also found that the taste, in general, is not very potent or sweet; it’s kind of neutral. And that’s good in a way, as it won’t be too much of a shock when you eat it for the first time.

However, when a horned melon is very ripe, the banana flavors will become much more prominent.

Other Names for Kiwano

The kiwano goes by many other names, depending on where you are based.

With its weird looks and the characteristics of cucumber and melon mixed together, it should be no surprise that the kiwano melon has been given many exciting names.

The scientific name for the kiwano fruit is Cucumis Metuliferus. Cucumis is a reference to the cucumber and melon family, while metuliferus is a Latin word that refers to the spikes on the fruit.

Here are some other known names for the kiwano fruit:

• Kiwano melon
• Horned melon
• African horned melon
• African horned cucumber
• Melano
• Jelly melon
• Spiked pear

So, if you’re on the hunt for a kiwano melon and you see any of these names, then you’ve probably found the right fruit.

Have you come across other names for kiwano? Let me know in the comments, as I’d love to know!

Consuming a Kiwano

Cutting and eating a horned melon is easy, but to get the most out of the fruit, the following tips may come in handy.

First, you should make sure you choose a ripe kiwano. A ripe one typically is not too hard (and not too soft either) and has an orange color rather than yellow or green.

Also, be sure to wash the fruit properly before cutting to avoid getting your knife dirty or contaminated.

You can “drink” a kiwano melon by cutting it in half and then squeezing the contents of one half into your mouth. The seeds can also be consumed, so you can drink everything you can squeeze out of the fruit.

However, the common way to eat this fruit is to cut it in half and then scoop out bits and pieces with a spoon. Do the cutting and scooping on a clean cutting board so you can eat the leftovers that you may spill.

The seeds and jelly-like flesh of kiwano melons are excellent ingredients for fruit salads. The juice also does very well in cocktails. You’ll have your guests wondering what’s in their drinks!

And, of course, kiwano melons can easily be added to green smoothies as well. I’ve done that many times to add extra flavors and liquids to my smoothies.

But honestly, because they are so unique and also a bit pricey, I prefer to eat a kiwano melon on its own. That way, I can best enjoy its unique flavors. Oh, and don’t just throw the shells out. You can use the hollow shells as a fun way to serve desserts!

For a more comprehensive guide, including practical storage tips and recipe ideas, read my article explaining how to eat kiwano melon.

Kiwano melon has quite a rich nutritional profile boasting a variety of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Let’s have a look at the most essential nutrients that exist in kiwano melons.

Kiwano Melon Nutritional Profile (raw – 100 g)
Water	88.97 g
Energy	44 kcal
Carbohydrates	7.56 g
Protein	1.78 g
Fat	1.26 g
Minerals
Potassium	123 mg
Magnesium	40 mg
Phosphorus	37 mg
Calcium	13 mg
Iron	1.13 mg
Vitamins
Vitamin A (mcg RAE)	7 μg
Vitamin A (IU)	147 IU
Vitamin C	5.3 mg
Folate (Vitamin B9)	3 μg
Source: USDA

As you can see, a kiwano melon is very watery, low in calories, and rich in vitamins and minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A and C.

Also worth pointing out is the relatively high protein content. This is because the kiwano has lots of protein-rich seeds.

Antioxidants

Just like with most fruits, kiwano melon is rich in antioxidants, for example through Vitamin A with carotenoids and beta-carotene, and vitamin C.

Magnesium is also an essential mineral, used by almost all organs in our bodies. And calcium promotes good bone health and will help prevent long-term bone conditions.

Although the kiwano fruit is indeed a healthy food and is high in essential nutrients, it’s certainly not the most nutrient-dense type of fruit out there.

Kiwifruit, for example, is richer in nutrients, especially vitamin C and calcium. But that doesn’t take away the fact that the kiwano fruit is a tasty and nutritious alternative to the more common fruits we eat daily.

They may be hard to find, but there are some nice recipes out there with kiwano fruit as a core ingredient.

Here are three recipes for you to try out:

1. Refreshing Kiwano Melon Smoothie

A surprisingly refreshing and nutritious kiwano smoothie recipe, with spinach, avocado, banana, blueberries, and ginger.

I realize that kiwanos are expensive, but as a smoothie fanatic, I love trying out new recipes, even if the ingredients are a bit pricey.

Here’s the complete list of ingredients. Feel free to experiment with other ingredients, but I find that the mix below works quite well.

Blend it all together, and you end up with a very refreshing smoothie that tastes delicious any time of day!

2. Grilled Beef with Horned Melon Sauce

A tasty and unique recipe for a sauce to go with beef. The sauce is made with kiwano pulp, lime juice, green onion, cumin, and garlic, mixed together in a blender or food processor.

Once blended into a nice and creamy texture, the sauce can be spooned evenly over grilled lean beef, lettuce, and cucumber.

You can find this refreshing recipe on Food Network.

3. Kiwano Sorbet

We all love a refreshing sorbet, especially on a warm summer’s day, but have you ever thought of kiwano sorbet?

This delicious recipe over at Peaceful Dumpling is definitely worth a try. It’s a relatively simple recipe with one kiwano fruit, two bananas, one apple, coconut sugar, and water.

You will need a decent blender to process it all into one super tasty and nutritious sorbet!

Unfortunately, it can be quite a challenge to find kiwano melons. But I encourage you to keep an eye out for them, especially at big fruit markets or specialty grocery stores.

The unique flavors and texture of kiwano fruit should be enough reason to try it out at least once, and the nutritional benefits are an added bonus.

Do you love exotic fruits as much as I do? Let me know what you think of kiwano and other fruits you have tried in the comments below.