Yubari King melon cultivar was first created in 1961 by crossing 2 cultivars known as Spicy Cantaloupe and Earl's Favorite. They are grown in the city of Yubari on the island of Hokkaido. It is the most expensive melon in the world.
Yubari King melons are protected by geographical indication, making them an exclusive product. It can fetch the price $45,000 on auction but a standard melon sells for between $50 (R550) and $100 (R1 100) in Japanese department stores.
The fruit is grown only inside greenhouses, as opposed to mass farming. Fruits are round with a netted texture. Fruits ripen with a few days of harvest, turning from greyish green to greenish yellow. The flesh is orange color. The fruit has a unique syrupy-sweet taste, delicate, juicy texture, and unusual skin pattern reminding of ancient porcelain vases.
Yubari King melon
