Written by Amrita Thakkar
It's not even a new fruit—yellow watermelon is older than red watermelon. Here's why people can't stop talking about this "golden" watermelon right now!
When the temperatures soar, we like to keep an eye out for foods that keep us cool and hydrated. Of course, at the top of the list is watermelon, that oh-so-versatile fruit that everyone loves to munch on come summer. Just learn how to cut a watermelon and you’ll have refreshing snacks all season long!
Most of us expect to see watermelon that’s red or pink, but that’s not the only hue. People have recently discovered that yellow watermelon exists.
What Is Yellow Watermelon?
Yellow watermelon looks exactly the same as a regular watermelon from the outside, with a striped green rind. However, once you cut it open, you’ll see that the inner flesh of the fruit is a bright golden yellow.
This type of watermelon isn’t new—it’s been around for a while! According to some sources, yellow watermelon was actually cultivated before red watermelon and has been grown in Africa for 5,000 years.
It currently comes in about five different varieties:
Yellow Crimson (a sweeter variety than the red Crimson Sweet)
Buttercup Yellow Melon (a hybrid that’s considered the sweetest of seedless melons)
Desert King (a type that’s almost orange in color)
Yellow Flesh Black Diamond (a melon that has a dark green rind and is about as sweet as pink watermelon)
Yellow Doll (a variety that’s small and matures quickly)
Yellow Watermelon vs. Red Watermelon
Red watermelon gets its red color from lycopene, a potent plant pigment and antioxidant that’s also present in tomatoes. While lycopene is one of the things that makes watermelon a superfood, it’s not the only one—it also contains tons of water, fiber, vitamins A and C, and potassium.
Yellow watermelon may not have lycopene, but it does have all the other benefits, plus one more: beta carotene. This pigment is another powerful antioxidant that gives sweet potatoes and carrots their orange or yellowish color. So when comes to health benefits, you can eat either one to get what you need!
What Does Yellow Watermelon Taste Like?
Yellow watermelon is a lot like red watermelon—sweet, juicy and delicious! To some tasters, yellow watermelon is just a bit sweeter than red watermelon, with an almost honey-like taste. If you’re looking to add a sweeter twist to watermelon recipes, opt for a yellow watermelon.
Where Can I Buy Yellow Watermelon?
You can currently buy yellow watermelon online at Instacart, though stock may vary based on where you’re located. You can also try your hand at growing your own by buying seeds on Amazon.
Be sure to keep an eye out at your local farmers market and grocery stores too. Just make sure you know how to tell a watermelon is ripe before you pick one!
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