Galia melon belongs to sugar melons. It is a hybrid of yellow melon and cantaloupe melon, which originated in the 70s of the last century. Its fruit is covered with a yellow rind of varying saturation, from which dense scars resembling a net emerge. That is why this and similar melons are sometimes called reticulated. Galia melon is light green to yellow on the inside, or the color changes from green at the rind to yellow towards the center according to the stage of ripeness. The thickness of the pulp depends on the variety and the size of the fruit, on average it is around 3.5 cm. The cavity in the pulp is filled with seeds wrapped in a slimy mass. The seeds are cream-colored and resemble small pumpkin seeds.

Galia melon is one of the aromatic melons, its aroma is distinctly sugary as well as its taste.

Watermelon galia, although it is consumed in our country mainly fresh and alone, has a very wide range of uses in fruit salads, it combines very well with more acidic and colorful fruits such as currants, strawberries, blueberries or citrus. It can also be used in vegetable salads and appetizers. Especially in combination with salmon, prosciuto or other marinated or dried meat, it is the most common proven Mediterranean appetizer. Watermelon galia can also be used in desserts as a filling, but grated also as an additive to dough, which gives it suppleness and aroma. In coastal areas, it is also often used in creamy soups, which are usually served cold and their recipe varies from region to region. Last but not least, it is great for fresh juices, cocktails and ice cream sundaes.

The ripeness of a gallium melon can be recognized by its aroma, which is noticeable at room temperature right next to the stem. Ripe fruits are usually not completely hard, they spring slightly when pressed hard. The color of the peel is not a very reliable indicator of ripeness. Underlined gallium melons ripen at room temperature and a little slower in the refrigerator.

The name gallium is based on the Hebrew word meaning ‘wool’. The origin of its name also corresponds to the origin of this hybrid, as the gallium melon was bred in Israel, where it became a very popular fruit. Gallium melon is a vegetable, although its use in our country is more similar to fruit. This is due to the character of this fruit and its affinity with, for example, cucumbers, pumpkins and zucchini. In addition to Israel, the gallium melon is grown mainly in South America, Africa, and in summer also in Spain and Italy. These fruits are characterized by a high water content and a significant amount of sugar.