Kiwanos, horned melon, horned cucumber, African horned cucumber, jelly melon, hedgehog gourd
(Cucumis metuliferus — Family Cucurbitaceae)
The kiwano is halfway between a vegetable and a fruit as it is not definitively classified as one or the other.
Indigenous to tropical Africa, this member of the gourd family was known as the African horned cucumber until it was renamed and trademarked as kiwano for export from New Zealand since 1981.
Many goods from New Zealand are marketed with a kiwi prefix after the “kiwi” fruit became so popular. It is also commercially grown in Portugal and the US.
This strange-looking, oval fruit has thick bright golden orange skin covered with sharp spikes. Inside, the gelatinous flesh starts out pale, but progresses to a bright green and encases numerous edible seeds, almost like a passion fruit.
These seeds are arranged in honeycomb-like compartments within the cavity.
The taste is reminiscent of cucumber, banana, and lime, and is one of the largest and tastiest of the African wild cucumbers.
The fruit is always eaten raw, along with the seeds; but the skin is inedible. It can be added to a drink or salads with the shells, serving as a decorative dish.
Despite its high price, kiwanos grow prolifically, and it is just a matter of time before availability meets demand.
Used for centuries in the Kalahari Desert to prevent dehydration, this curiosity does little else for the palate.
