Recently a popular news item appeared on Weibo about 'the world's smallest watermelon". The news item attracted a lot of attention from Chinese netizens. Reports say that this thumb-sized watermelon is called 'Pepquino'. It was originally produced in South America and is now cultivated in Hangzhou, Shanghai and other places in China.
This variety of watermelon that can fit in your pocket is called 'thumb-sized watermelon' and it's more scientific name is 'Pepquino'. It originated in South America and is a superb fruit with a very high nutritional value. 'Pepquino' has the same appearance as a normal watermelon. It is about 2 cm by 3 cm with a soft and tender peel. The inner fruit flesh is bright green. The taste resembles that of cucumber, crisp and fresh. It can be eaten straight away. The small watermelon possesses large quantities of biologically active enzymes. It slows the ageing process and has a significant effect on longevity.
The most important characteristic of 'thumb-sized watermelons' is a very rich content of vitamin C, potassium and magnesium. When it is fully ripe, it has a sweet-and-sour taste and a fresh fragrance. One variety smells like banana and lime. Moreover, 100 gr of 'Pepquino' contains 12% of proteins, 16% of fiber and 56% of carbohydrate.
At present, 'thumb-sized watermelons' are already on sale in some large cities, but they aren't cultivated on a large scale. On July 27, 2013, a cooperative from Shanghai's Jinshan region successfully finalised cultivation after three years of breeding. With its adorable appearance and refreshing taste, the thumb-sized watermelon has become a product of high demand at short notice. The price is high at about 160 RMB per kilogram.
Source: www.weather.com.cn
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