UK | A rare orange flesh watermelon is now available for the first time in the UK.
Rare orange flesh watermelons instead of the usual red have been made available on sale for the first time on British high streets.
Tesco will exclusively sell the watermelons, which are much sweeter than the red equivalent. The variety grown in Spain is new, although a hybrid derived from old heirloom types.
Tesco's fruit technical manager and melon-growing expert, James Cackett, has spent the last 18 years working with seed houses to find exciting new and rare varieties for shoppers.
“Not only do the excellent orange flesh watermelons taste fantastic, but they are also great showstoppers and are guaranteed to turn heads and be talking points when served at BBQs and garden parties,” said Cackett.
“While the variety is not new, this is the first time they have ever been commercially grown for sale in the UK.”
In recent years, Tesco has worked closely with its melon suppliers to bring new varieties to the UK. Some of these have included the Sweet Snowball, sweet and distinctive because of its white flesh and very pale green, flecked skin, while the Finest Sunkiss is another variety of the Honeydew family with pale orange flesh.
Tesco also sells other varieties of melon, such as Yellow Honeydew, Watermelon, Giant Watermelon, Mini Watermelon, Yellow Watermelon, Galia, Cantaloupe, Piel De Sapo, Sunkiss, and Sweet Snowball.
Watermelons are also now grown in the UK. Last year, the supermarket’s British supplier, Oakley Farms, based near Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, grew an incredible 11,000, the most significant amount ever grown in the UK.
The new orange flesh watermelon will go on sale in more than 140 Tesco stores across the UK and cost £4 each.
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