A special fruit that no one knew about in the past has now become a specialty sought after by urban people at a price of 50,000 VND/kg.

Cat melon (also known as lu di melon) is a fruit that looks like a cucumber but is heavier. This specialty fruit is grown and preserved by the Mong people in the provinces of Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien...

The Mong people say that cat melons are only suitable for cold climates and altitudes of 1,000m or higher. This fruit is often grown intercropped with corn on fields, without the need for a trellis as they can climb directly onto the ground. They are in season from June to September every year.

Loại quả đặc sản xưa không ai biết, giờ thành đặc sản được dân thành thị — Mong people say that cat melon is only suitable for cold climates and altitudes of 1,000m or higher.

"Cat melons are very easy to grow, no need to fertilize, spray, water the plants still give high yield. People don't even need to build a trellis, but let them crawl on the ground and rocks. Each plant can produce 2-3 fruits.

In the past, only ethnic people grew cat melon and picked it to eat every day. We used to joke that this was a fruit reserved for our people, few people in the lowlands knew about it.

Later, when tourism in the highlands developed, people picked the fruit and sold it to tourists along the national highway or to hotels and restaurants to increase their income. Thanks to that, it became a specialty sought after by city dwellers," said Giang Thi Hong (32 years old, from Son La).

Currently, traders have purchased cat melons and brought them back to the city to sell. Housewives can buy them freely on online markets or ask the seller in advance to reserve a portion. "Cat melons cost between 30,000 - 50,000 VND/kg, depending on the time. Usually at the beginning of the season, they are expensive due to scarcity, but gourmets are still willing to pay," said Ms. Hong.

According to the woman, the cat melon weighs 0.8-1kg, some even weigh up to 2kg. They are delicious, crunchy, sweet, and more flavorful than cucumbers. In particular, they have a dense core and few seeds, so they are suitable for making salads.

Source: https://danviet.vn/loai-qua-dac-san-xua-khong-ai-biet-gio-thanh-dac-san-duoc-dan-thanh-thi-san-lung-gia-50000-dong-kg-20240527124635758.htm