Pineapple melon or Ich-Kzyl will surprise you with its delicate aroma and juicy pulp
Central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan are the homeland of many varieties and varieties of melons known throughout the world, among which are the fruits of the subspecies Ameri or Melo ameri. These are fairly large mid-season melons:
- with juicy, yellowish-creamy or orange pulp;
- with excellent sweet taste;
- with a subtle vanilla-like aroma.
Unlike early varieties, whose fruits quickly lose marketability, the dense crispy flesh of Amery melons can withstand storage and transportation, which only adds value to the numerous varieties belonging to this subspecies with a growing season of 80-100 days. Among the most widespread and popular in Central Asia are Ich-Kzyl melons.
In Europe and on the territory of the former USSR, this variety type name is considered complex, therefore melons with a fresh aroma are called pineapple. Most often, the varieties Ich-kzyl large-fruited and Ich-kzyl Uzbek 331 are grown on the melons of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and other countries of the region.
Melons of Ich-kzyl can be recognized by large, less often medium-sized fruits that have the shape of a spindle or ellipse. On the surface, covered with gray-greenish bark with stripes and yellow spots, weak segmentation can be seen. Ripe melons have a pronounced mesh pattern. The orange or creamy flesh is firm, not too thick, but very sweet and aromatic.
Ich-kzyl Uzbek 331
The fruits of the Ich-kzyl Uzbek 331 variety reach a weight of 3 kg, have an elliptical shape and a smooth surface with a coarse mesh pattern. The hard bark is colored light green, showing thin, often torn, darker stripes. The flesh is of medium thickness orange, green under the skin.
The sugar content in ripe melon reaches 10-12%, which ensures a sweet dessert taste of the fruit. Fruity aroma with vanilla notes.
Ich-kzyl large-fruited
The fruits of this medium-early variety with a vegetation period of 85–95 days weigh from 3.9 to 5.0 kg. Melons have an elliptical shape, a smooth surface with a mesh pattern and a yellow-green color with narrow stripes. Melons have thick, light orange flesh. In a relatively short period of time, fruits accumulate from 10 to 12.5% of sugars, which predetermines the excellent taste of fresh melons used. In addition, the popularity of the variety provides the ability to store and transport fruits. The melons owe this not only to the crispy dense pulp, but also to the rather hard skin.