FoodFood InformationFruitMelons
The Green Tendral, also known as the Elche Honeydew or the Spanish melon,is shaped somewhat like a football and has a dark green, ridged skin anda cream-colored flesh. It has a very hard shell even when ripe. The bestones are grown in Spain and usually arrive in December. They are availablefor two to three months at a time when there are few melons in the marketand they are usually quite costly.
Green Tendrals are also grown on a limited scale in California and Chile,but neither area produces melons that are as flavorful as the ones fromSpain, which, when ripe, can be very tasty. However, identifying one thatis ripe is most difficult. If it has the same slight give at the blossomend that identifies a ripe honeydew or a crenshaw, the Spanish melon isprobably overripe and will eat mushy. Your best bet is to buy one that isfirm at the blossom end and hope for the best.
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