Casaba Melon

A member of the muskmelon family, this fruit has a shape and look similar to a walnut. Inside the thick rind, the flesh is a cream colored and when ripe provides a very mild flavor, not as sweet as other melons, that is somewhat similar to the taste of a cucumber. The skin color varies with the variety. As an example, the rind of Golden Beauty will be green when it is young and have a bright yellow color as it matures. The Crenshaw is tan or pale yellow when mature, while the Winter Pineapple maintains a light green skin color throughout its growing season. The flesh of the Casaba has a ridged or embossed appearance. To check for ripeness, depress the blossom end of the melon, opposite the stem end, to make sure it is not hard and yields slightly when depressed.