The Alien of the Produce Aisle: Unlocking the Secrets of the Kiwano

If you have ever wandered through a specialty grocery store and done a double-take at a bright orange, oval-shaped fruit covered in blunt, spiky horns, you have likely encountered the kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus). Often nicknamed the horned melon, African horned cucumber, or jelly melon, this exotic fruit looks less like something grown on Earth and more like a prop straight out of a science fiction movie. In fact, pop culture buffs might even spot it serving as alien space fruit in franchises like Star Trek and Star Wars!