Guest Author - Caroline Baker
With summer upon us, it's time to enjoy watermelon. That succulent, juicy fruit is a favorite of many around the World.
According to Watermelon.org, watermelons were first discovered in Egypt and spread through the world. In the 10th century, they made their way to China. Today, China is the largest producer of watermelon in the world, making up more than all the rest of the world combined.
For Chinese, watermelons are the idea gift to bring when visiting someone else's home. They are sweet and red, wishing your host good fortune. And they are great to eat after a hardy meal, cooling off and relaxing on a hot summer night. From young to old, Chinese enjoy watermelon.
As a youth, I remember traveling to China and each night our treat would be a big chunk of watermelon. The sky was dark, the sun having gone down a while ago. Sitting in the central courtyard, on the slate slabs, the children would munch quietly as the adults talked and laughed about current events.
China, though, doesn't hold the monopoly of interest in watermelon. Throughout the Asian countries, the presentation of food is just as important as the taste. In neighboring Thailand, locals carve intricate flowers into the watermelons for presentation, offerings, and gifts. And throughout the islands and Southern Asia in summer time, many areas hold carving festivals and competitions. With just a knife, they carve scenes of mythical Asian creatures, everyday images, and famous sayings. Some of the most beautiful examples of these I’ve seen come from a Japanese artist, Takashi Itoh. You can visit his works at: http://takashi64.hp.infoseek.co.jp/page009.html.
How well do you know your watermelon? Find out at this quiz hosted by Watermelon.org.
