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.

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.

Harvesting Pepino Melon in Winter

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.