Tags
black, cardboard box, certificate, Densuke watermelon, expensive, few seeds, Food, Hokkaido, Japan, large fruit, less than 100, rare, shiny, small, sweeter
Densuke Watermelon (Japan)
The most prized variety of watermelon is the Densuke which produces large fruits up to 8 pounds, smaller than the standard size that are sold in Europe and the United States, but in Japan they cost much more than their weight. They are very rare and every year there are about less than a hundred. The Densuke watermelon is considered the most expensive watermelon in the world and it can cost a minimum of $250 up to $6,000 each. The final cost of this fruit reflects the amount of time and dedication to its cultivation space.
This Japanese watermelon is grown only in the northern island of Hokkaido; its flavor is unsurpassed, with a completely different and much higher level of sweetness, characterized by a very red and crunchy (more or less the same consistency of our watermelons) with very few seeds. It is known for its tough skin that has a very dark shade of green to appear sometimes black and shiny. The Densuke Watermelon is not yet widely grown outside of Japan, but the seeds begin to be commercially available in Europe and America. In general it occupies a considerable amount of space and are not readily nestable in many gardens. They also require several months of care and maintenance, making them available for sale in a few pieces per year. Even the way it is packaged is particular: it is presented in an elegant cubic cardboard box with protection to keep it from denting and certificate of origin is included.