2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14
Among the huge variety of gourds in Russia, the Astrakhan watermelon is very popular. What is good about this product and why exactly are its customers looking for it on store shelves? These questions should be answered gradually.
Interesting details
Astrakhan watermelon is a product that has been grown in Russia for several centuries. It all happened quite by accident, when merchants from distant Persia brought their goods for sale back in the 12th century. Their path ran through the endless Astrakhan steppes. That's when the locals got acquainted with the new product. It turned out that the local fertile land is perfect for growing an unusual crop. The case began to gradually gain momentum. And already in the 16th century, for the first time, the Astrakhan watermelon became a culture of its own production. Then Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich ate this juicy outlandish berry with pleasure. She was specially taken to the table of the great monarch. Perhaps, since then, rounded striped fruits have firmly entered our lives. Thanks to the efforts of local field growers, over time they have become more accessible. And for Astrakhan itself, watermelon is no longer just a product or an ordinary gourd, but a real symbol of the city.
Benefitproduct
Few people know that Astrakhan watermelon, like any other representative of this species, can have a therapeutic effect on the human body. Doctors recommend using it for people suffering from quite serious diseases. Oddly enough, but this product helps to restore the functioning of the kidneys, liver and gallbladder. It is used for gout, nosebleeds, anemia and even heart disease. The tender pulp of watermelon is able to cleanse the kidneys and remove harmful sand from them. Sometimes she even copes with small stones. Nutritionists advise to deal with excess weight and obesity to arrange fasting days once a week. At this time, it is recommended to eat up to three kilograms of pulp. True, this method of prevention should not be abused. For women who want to prolong their youth, experts advise drinking tea from watermelon peels. Two teaspoons of raw materials in a glass of boiling water will help preserve the complexion and give the skin the desired elasticity.
Growing conditions
Astrakhan watermelons, when ripe, turn into a fruit that has a round, and sometimes slightly oblong shape. Usually, from the moment of emergence, this should take from 70 to 81 days. The product resembles a ball with a smooth surface, which has a pattern of dark green stripes in the form of bizarre spikes. It has a fiery red flesh with a pronounced sweet taste. Over the years, breeders have managed to create several hybrids of the famous variety. Among them there are both early maturing individuals (Lolita, Zoryanka,Photon), as well as products of early ripening (Lunny, Rapid, Skorik, Melon Alice). In the first, maturity occurs as early as 55 days. The second after 60 days become completely ready for use. Both of them are highly transportable and retain their original freshness for a whole month. This quality is considered especially valuable, because with its help it becomes possible to transport Astrakhan watermelons, when they ripen, for sale to the most remote corners of the country.
Must know
Watermelons of the Astrakhan region have become a real brand for her. Even the name of the region is already associated mainly with this melon culture. Experts say that watermelons grown here are superior in all respects to representatives of other domestic regions and even some European countries. Here in the small Volga town of Kamyzyak there is even a real museum, the main exhibit of which is the notorious watermelon. Visitors can get acquainted with the history of this culture, find out how and where an unusual berry appeared in our country. The museum is visited by a huge number of tourists. A whole exposition with old documents, unique photographs and living specimens has been developed for them. Local guides are real fans of their work. In a short time, they will provide the audience with all the known information about watermelons. Such an informative lecture will be of interest even to casual visitors.
Distinguishing Features
Many buyers in the markets or store shelves choose Astrakhan watermelons. How to distinguish them from other varieties? This question interests many. Any product must be able to choose. There are a number of indicators by which you can accurately determine a qualitative representative of this family. If everything is clear regarding the shape and color, then the pulp should be said separately. Everyone is used to the fact that a good watermelon must be red. This belief was recently refuted by Russian experts. They brought out a variety of berries with orange and even yellow pulp by experimental selection. In terms of taste, these representatives are no worse. They are just as sweet and flavorful. The change in shade in them depends only on the increased content of carotene. In addition, do not forget about the famous "piglet". This is a small yellow spot on the peel, which indicates that the fruit was in contact with the ground. And this means that he matured on his own. A dry tail and black seeds, in turn, indicate the stage of ripeness. Additionally, this can be checked by sound. In a mature fruit, it is sonorous, and when cut, a characteristic crack is emitted.
A bit of history
Astrakhan watermelons appeared in Moscow quite a long time ago. When at the beginning of the 18th century Peter the Great first tried this berry, he was simply amazed. The unusual appearance and wonderful taste interested the emperor so much that he demanded that this product be grown in the fields near Moscow. True, the local climate turned out to be completely unsuitable.for heat-loving culture. The fruits ripened slowly and slowly. After that, at the behest of the tsar, they continued to grow them in the Astrakhan province, and they were brought to Moscow every year. Since then, little has changed. Juicy watermelons are still brought to the capital. True, some argue that the quality of the product is noticeably deteriorating. There are cases when berries were “pumped up” with s altpeter for early ripening. These kinds of stimulants are officially banned. But there are individual farms that do not disdain anything to increase income by increasing productivity. There is a special laboratory in the capital, the work of which is aimed at restricting the import of dangerous products into the city's markets and stopping all attempts of this kind.
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