Aishan Watermelons

Aishan Watermelons

　　Historically, Aishan watermelons were renowned for their large size and high quality — so much so that a single porter could often carry only two per load. There were generally four types of melons: one with a black rind, black seeds, and red flesh, known as "Black Jar Skin"; another with a mottled rind (green base with black stripes), also black seeds and red flesh, called "Brotherhood"; a third with white rind, white seeds, and white flesh, called "Three Whites"; and a fourth type that was small in size, with thin skin, small seeds, black rind, and red flesh, known as 'Wind Seedling.' The first three varieties ideally produced one melon per plant, while the Wind Seedling variety could yield 3–5 per plant. The greatest advantages of Aishan watermelons were their abundant juice, high sugar content, and entirely sandy flesh — when eaten, they had a rich, granular texture, strong honey-like sweetness, and a fragrant aroma. Nowadays, watermelon vendors still often advertise “Aishan melons,” but the Aishan watermelons found in markets today are completely different from the original varieties — they are all ordinary hybrid melons, not only smaller in size but also with firm, less juicy flesh and lower sweetness.

　　Aishan watermelons have a long history. According to historical records: during the Warring States period, the state of Chu planted large sweet melons in its borderlands (now Qicheng area in Anhui). The people of Wei wanted to obtain these melon seeds, but the Chu people refused, leading to a war between the two states. Later, peace was made in Qicheng, and from then on, watermelons spread northward. The Pi region also began watermelon cultivation, with Aishan watermelons standing out as superior. The historically excellent quality of Aishan watermelons can be attributed to two factors: first, the superior natural conditions — the Aishan area has predominantly light sandy soil; and second, the cultivation technique — in the past, Aishan growers exclusively used fragrant oil cake residue as fertilizer for the melons, and no other fertilizers.