Watermelon is one of the easiest to name summer flavors and a staple of family picnics and celebrations. Not only is it great tasting, but it also provides a big boost to nutrition - that's why it has a reputation as a “Superfood”. Beyond the fruit itself, you can find watermelon as a flavoring or additive to dozens of candies, cocktails, and even sodas (including CBD soda).
With watermelon being so easy to find, how much do you know about the fruit? Just what makes it taste so good and how many kinds are there? Below you can learn 10 fun facts about the watermelon and once you've finished the list you may just find yourself craving something with an intense watermelon flavor. If so, we'd recommend our watermelon CBD drinks - or the five homemade cocktail recipes we've provided below!
Watermelon Rinds are Edible
While most people discard them, watermelon rinds, once cleaned, are completely edible. They are often eaten with salt, pickled, or added to a variety of cuisine, including cocktails. A watermelon gin fizz is frequently garnished or served with pickled watermelon rind. This bubbly cocktail can also make use of watermelon CBD soda as an easy substitute for the prosecco called for in most recipes.
Watermelons Are a Good Way to Stay Hydrated
Few foods can claim that eating them will keep you hydrated. Watermelons, being approximately 92% water, can provide about 16 oz of water to the body per average 2 cup serving of the fruit. In addition to this, you'll be getting 40% of your average DV for vitamin C, 10% for b6, and 6% for magnesium as well as a handful of antioxidants, according to the USDA.
Watermelons Come in Many Colors
Watermelon rind can range from a creamy off-white to a deep green or almost-blue color. The interior flesh can be pale canary yellow, pink, classic red, bright orange, and even a pale white. Surprisingly yellow and orange watermelons are the sweetest recorded types while pink and red watermelons have firmer flesh and are easier to transport or ship.
Yes, You Can Make Watermelon Taste Better
Have you ever gone to the supermarket and picked up what seemed like the perfect watermelon? Then you take it home, slice it up, and discover that though it felt perfect and is perfectly juicy, the should-be crimson interior is only light pink and not nearly as sweet as you remember watermelon to be.
There is something you can do in this situation. More than one something, even. Watermelon isn't only for eating plain. Adding just a little salt or a quick wash of saltwater can make even a picked-too-early watermelon taste a bit sweeter.
Still not enough? A slight drizzle of honey can help, too. Pair this with a Watermelon sparkling CBD soda and you could have a full watermelon-flavor experience. Have a melon that's too ripe and verging on pure sugar rather than the ideal watermelon flavor? Adding about ½ oz of lemon juice to a bowl of watermelon cubes can help improve the flavor.
Watermelon Has Been Cultivated for About 5,000 Years
The first records we have found of watermelon being grown indicate that it was being cultivated in Egypt as long ago as 5,000 years. These watermelons were smaller and contained many more seeds than today's varieties, but they were still some of the sweeter fruits grown around that time.
There are Over 1,200 Varieties of Watermelon
Just counting the varieties of watermelon still grown today, there are over 1,200 cultivars in use across the globe. In the United States alone, you can find just over 300 varieties of watermelon being grown and most of these are hybrids or seedless varieties.
For flavor and cost reasons, both seeded varieties are the most frequently used for juicing or the creation of natural watermelon flavoring in candies, watermelon juice, and watermelon sodas, including CBD sodas. Watermelon rinds, seeds and seed particles are carefully removed during the production process, however.
You Can Eat a Cracked Watermelon
If you've ever grown your own watermelon, you may be worried that all of your hard work has gone to waste if that watermelon ends up developing a crack after a heatwave or cold snap. Not to worry! A cracked watermelon means a lot of good things and, as long as you notice it within a day or two, nothing bad.
Cracks only develop in ripe watermelons, unless the melon was struck with force. Not only that, but cracks in the watermelon's rind also indicate a sweeter melon as sugars will develop quickly along the lines of the crack. These watermelons make particularly good candidates for juicing or mixing with watermelon sodas, including CBD beverages. As long as the watermelon is thoroughly washed before it is sliced and eaten, even a cracked watermelon is safe to eat.
Watermelon Seeds are High in Nutrients
Like many other nuts and seeds, watermelon seeds are completely edible and contain many important vitamins and minerals including folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. However, you will need to crush or chew the seeds to get these benefits.
Pumpkins and Watermelons are Closely Related
Watermelons and pumpkins belong to the same family: Cucurbitaceae. This is the same family that pumpkins, cucumbers, and squash belong to. While these plants are not close enough to produce a true hybrid, they do attract the same pests. This is the primary reason that gardeners and farmers do not grow pumpkins and watermelons close together.
Whole, Unbroken Watermelons Don't Have to Be Refrigerated
As long as you purchase your watermelon at room temperature, it's safe to keep it there until it has been cut. The cut watermelon should either be eaten or placed in the refrigerator within an hour. Some research has even been done that suggests watermelon kept at room temperature for its entire life cycle has a higher available nutrient content.
Watermelon can be a tricky flavor to come by in cocktails and an even trickier element to work with. That's where our watermelon CBD drinks come in. With a strong, juicy watermelon flavor, these CBD beverages can take your watermelon cocktails up a notch - even if there isn't a lot of fresh watermelon around to pair it with. Below are five cocktail recipes to get you started.
Sparkling Watermelon Punch
This punch comes with its own bowl-the watermelon itself. With the refreshing flavors of watermelon and mint combined with the effervescence of a sparkling watermelon element, you have some of the key elements of summer in each sip.
Ingredients
- 1 Small Watermelon – Mini Watermelons and "Sugar Babies" of 5-7 lbs are ideal
- Mint Leaves
- 4 oz Vodka
- 2 oz Lime Juice, Fresh or Natural Strength
- 1 oz Simple Syrup, Plain or Flavored
- Cubed Ice
- Sparkling Wine or Our Sparkling Watermelon CBD Drinks
- Additional Lime, Mint Leaves, or Candied Watermelon Rind for Garnish
Instructions
Cut the watermelon in half and carve out one half. Add the watermelon chunks that were removed from this half to a blender. Add mint leaves. Blend until smooth. Strain the puree into a container using a fine-mesh strainer. Discard any solids remaining.
To the watermelon “bowl” add cubed ice, vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, and the watermelon and mint puree. Stir to combine. Top with our sparkling watermelon CBD drink or sparkling wine.
Sparkling Watermelon Margaritas
Few things are as much of a callback to summer as margaritas and watermelon. Where the recipe above was refreshing and relied on the availability of fresh watermelons, this recipe can be used with bottled watermelon juice and one of our watermelon CBD drinks. This way, you can enjoy a watermelon drink in the heat of summer with what's in your pantry or in the depths of winter, when you need something to lighten up the mood.
Ingredients
- 3.5 oz Watermelon Juice, Fresh or Natural Strength
- 1 oz Lime Juice
- 1.5 oz Tequila
- 2 oz Sparkling Watermelon CBD Drink
- Strawberries, Lime, and Margarita Salt for Garnish
Instructions
If using the salt, apply it to the rim first. Fill a shaker with ice and combine watermelon juice, lime juice, and tequila. Shake heavily and pour into the prepared glass. Top with one of our sparkling watermelon CBD drinks, to the desired level, and garnish.
Sparkling Watermelon Mojito
The combination of mint and watermelon is a classic. Even for people who aren't fans of melon or watermelon flavors, mint can make this an appealing cocktail addition- it transforms the watermelon flavor into something a bit sweeter and cooler. Similar to Sparkling Watermelon Punch, this recipe for a sparkling watermelon mojito is a great use of watermelon and mint when no fresh watermelons are on hand.
Ingredients
- Mint Leaves
- .5 oz Lime Juice, Fresh or Natural Strength
- .5 to 1.5 oz Simple Syrup, to Taste
- 3 oz Watermelon Juice, Fresh or Natural Strength
- 1.5 oz White Rum
- 3 oz or so of Sparkling Watermelon CBD Soda or Sparkling White Wine
- Ice
Instructions
Muddle the mint in your prepared glasses. Add lime, simple syrup, watermelon juice, and rum. Stir and top with ice. Pour in your fizzy drink of choice. Serve.
Strawberry and Watermelon Sangria
Sangria is almost always synonymous with summer. Especially so when they lead with watermelon.
This ice-cold and tangy drink is just about guaranteed to perk up your day, whether the sun is shining or you're stuck indoors.
Ingredients
- 3 Cups of Strained Watermelon Juice (Fresh or Bottled)
- 16 oz Hulled Strawberries (Frozen Works Just as Well)
- .5 C Lemon Juice, Fresh or Natural Strength
- 1 750ml Bottle Pinot Grigio
- 1 C Vodka (Strawberry or Watermelon Flavor is Preferred)
- .5 C Triple Sec
- .5 C Simple Syrup
- 3 C Mixed - Sliced Lemons, Oranges, and Blueberries
- Sparkling Watermelon CBD to Top
Instructions
Blend strawberries, watermelon juice, and lemon juice until smooth. Strain to remove seeds and pulp. Discard seeds and pulp. Pour the resulting puree and juice into a pitcher. Add wine, vodka, triple sec, and simple syrup. Add fruit. Stir just to combine.
Pour this into glasses filled with ice until they are 2/3 full. To finish the cocktail, top with our sparkling watermelon CBD drink or one of our other, refreshing fruit-flavored CBD beverages.
Spicy Frozen Watermelon Bellini
This cocktail can seem a little complicated at first with how many flavors it has, but the flavor combination is hard to beat if you're a fan of the sweet and spicy combination. Further, once you have the
Ingredients
on hand, assembling the drink is incredibly simple- dump, blend, pour, and top. No need for garnishing- this drink is a deep pink already. If you want, however, you can add some turbinado sugar to the rim of the glass to amp up the sweet flavor of the watermelon.
Ingredients
- 4 C Seedless Watermelon, Cubed and Chilled or Frozen
- Half a Jalapeno, Seeds Removed (Unless you want to keep that extra heat.)
- 1 C Sparkling Wine
- 2 T Lime Juice
- 1 T Sugar
- Additional Sugar for the Rim of the Glass
- Watermelon CBD Soda
Instructions
- First, add sugar to the rim of your glasses, if desired. Add the frozen or chilled watermelon to a blender along with the jalapeno, lime juice, and sugar. Blend until smooth.
- Pour in the 1 C of sparkling wine and pulse to combine. Pour into glasses. Top with watermelon CBD sparkling beverages to complete the drink. Serve.