| Cucumis melo 'Yubari King' | |
|---|---|
Section of a fresh Yūbari King melon |
|
| Details | |
| Species | C. melo |
| Genus | Cucumis |
| Hybrid parentage | Cucumis melo Earl's Favourite × Burpee's "Spicy" Cantaloupe |
| Cultivar | 'Yubari King' |
| Origin | Yūbari, Hokkaidō, Japan |
The Yubari King (夕張メロン) is a cantaloupe cultivar farmed in greenhouses in Yūbari, Hokkaidō, a small town close to Sapporo. The Yubari King is a hybrid of two other cantaloupe cultivars: Earl's Favourite and Burpee's "Spicy" Cantaloupe. This hybrid's scientific name is Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus Naud. cv. Yubari King.
Some Japanese people present Yubari King melons as gifts during Chūgen. A top-grade melon is to be perfectly round and have an exceptionally smooth rind. A portion of the stem, which is snipped with scissors, is left on top for aesthetic appeal.[1]
At a Japanese auction in 2008, two Yubari King melons sold together for ¥2.5 million.[2] In 2007, the top price paid for a pair of Yubari King melons was ¥2 million.[1][2]