Pepino Melon

Pepino may look a lot like a melon, but it's actually related to nightshades which include the tomato and eggplant. It's flavor is described as a delicious blend of cucumber and honeydew.

Scientific Binomial Name: Solanum muricatum

Selection Information

Other Namess: melon pear, melon shrub, pepino dulce, sweet pepino, and mellowfruit.

Usage:

Eaten raw for breakfast, in fruit and spinach salads. Pepinos are great served peeled and cubed or sliced.

Selection:

Good-quality Pepino melon will be smooth-skinned, have a sweet smell on the stem-end and be as firm as a partially ripe plum. The coloring of ripe fruit will be pale yellow with purple stripes.

Avoid:

Avoid product that is soft, dented or light for its size.

Storage:

Ripen at room temperature until as firm as a slightly ripe plum, then refrigerate ripe fruit for up to 3 days.

Seasonal Information

Pepinos are available in the late Fall. Pepino melons are native to Peru. They're also grown in California and New Zealand.

Pepino Melon Nutritional Information

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 medium Pepino (100g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 80 Calories from Fat 0

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 0 1%

Saturated Fat 0g 0%

Trans Fat

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 0mg 0%

Total Carbohydrate 22g 7%

Dietary Fiber 5g 20%

Sugars

Protein

Vitamin A Vitamin C

Calcium Iron

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Source: PMA's Labeling Facts

Pepinos are are low-fat, sodium-free, and cholesterol-free. They're also a great source of fiber.

Pepino Tips & Trivia

Pepino melons originally come from the higher elevations of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile in the Andean Mountains.
Pepino melons are also grown in Hawaii, California, New Zealand, Western Australia, Morocco, Spain, Israel, and the highlands of Kenya.