I know it says charentais melon up there at the top and that’s true; but what is also true is that this is a canteloupe — a real one. Not one of those impostor musk melons calling themselves canteloupes at the grocery store and farmer’s markets. I talked about this briefly a few weeks ago when I highlighted the ever so delicious french baby melon.
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You can see the two side by side here. Combined they are barely bigger than a spoon.
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And honestly, it doesn’t particularly matter if you call them by the wrong name, they are both delicious and worth seeking out. We all know I like to be “different” so of course, I’m going to go for the charentais more often than not, because HELLO – it’s green and legit. (Can anyone who grew up in the 90s really say the word “legit” without automatically using your best rapper voice and singing “too legit to quit!“? I didn’t think so.)
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So whether you like the tried and true or the new old world, it’s melon time, which is very, very close to hammer time! (Good lord – where did all the MC Hammer references come from today? My apologies. It’s possible that it stems from the fact that I’m still wearing my pajamas, which are basically hammer pants. When, oh when will these come back in style?)
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Charentais Melon

APPEARANCE Rating:

Dusty, muted green smooth skin with faint ribbing. Bright orange flesh and yellow seeds. About the size of a squatty softball.

AROMA Rating:

Clear, mild scent that strikes me as a very pure melon scent without the strong sweetness.

TEXTURE Rating:

Juicy and dense with a slight graininess that I find appealing.

TASTE Rating:

Mild cantaloupe flavor with a touch of something tart, almost lemony. Very fresh tasting. Not overly sweet.

OVERALL Overall Rating:

I love eating this melon because it feels very old-world. Like I’m sitting at a farm table with my grandmother eating a melon we grew ourselves. None of this is something I’ve ever done, so eating this melon feels like a cool, happy fantasy. Something I am quick to do on a hot summer day.

FRUIT Melon	PEAK Summer	PROVIDED BY Specialty Produce
VARIETY Charentais	GROWN Weiser Family Farm California