One of the most unusual and striking-looking fruits both in Japan and across the globe is the square watermelon. Square watermelons can go for up to $200 each, but the cost is typically around $65. For that money, one would expect something very special about these unusual watermelons. The truth is, however, that square watermelons are just like regular watermelons, apart from their shape. Square watermelons have the same color flesh, seeds, and the same flavor as normal watermelons. But that doesn't stop people from indulging their whimsy by purchasing a square watermelon from time to time.
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How do these fruits get their peculiar shape? It all comes down to growing the melons under special circumstances by using square-shaped molds. But just because farmers have a mold does not mean that things will go exactly as planned. In fact, the uncertainty and extra labor associated with this growing process is actually what drives the price up.
When the watermelons grow in these square molds, the fruit often does not really respond to the mold, which means fewer are successfully made — and that the price for the in-demand watermelons can easily be driven up when there are not enough to meet demand.
Source: tastingtable.com
Photo source: Dreamstime.com