This fruit has a unique characteristic: its appearance resembles that of purple sweet potatoes, yet it grows on trees, and its flesh has a sweet, refreshing taste.
In rural areas, there are many types of wild fruits, including some that city dwellers may never have the chance to see. In the countryside of Southern China, there is a local fruit known as Moon Melon or Wild Sweet Potato. This fruit closely resembles purple sweet potatoes; however, it grows on trees.
This fruit looks exactly like purple sweet potatoes. (Image: Baidu)
Its scientific name is Holboellia latifolia Wall and it typically grows in valleys and on higher hillsides. The Moon Melon is also colloquially known as “August Fruit.” It is named this way because it ripens in the eighth month of the lunar calendar. At this time, the fruit will naturally split in half.
They thrive in forests where the trees are not too dense. The fruit has a milky white flesh, a very fragrant aroma, and a sweet taste. The fruit contains many seeds, but the flesh and seeds tend to stick together. The Moon Melon usually turns purple when ripe and is yellow when unripe.
However, its skin can be peeled like a banana. (Image: Baidu)
Once ripe, the Moon Melon splits open, making it easy to eat directly. This fruit can also be used to make wine, extract juice, or collect syrup. The Moon Melon is rich in vitamins and amino acids. Besides being a food source, this fruit is also used as a remedy for hair loss, constipation, ringworm, and various other ailments. This fruit is often sought after by men who believe it has the ability to treat erectile dysfunction.
The Moon Melon is a fruit rich in vitamins and amino acids.
Currently, the Moon Melon is beginning to be widely used in cities. However, because this fruit typically grows wild and only produces fruit once a year, its price remains quite high. The current price of the Moon Melon is 80 RMB/kg (over 280,000 VND/kg).
