Watermelon’s Summer Tales
Mark Twain once said, “When one has tasted watermelon he knows what the angels eat.” And most likely that angel was an Egyptian. Egyptians were the first to discover watermelons 5000 years ago and then shared them with the rest of civilization in the 10th century. When it comes to eating watermelons, there are many cultural rituals on how watermelons are consumed. The Japanese will elegantly decorate them and give them as gifts. In other part of Asia, people will pickle watermelons – a culinary violation that is very hard for Egyptians to swallow. Egyptians may pickle their Pharos, but watermelons are higher in their food chain. Egyptians consider watermelon a live food, which should be cut and eaten fresh, no watermelon canned, or jams. I know that for most Americans it has been customary and almost patriotic act to eat watermelon during 4th of July picnic, but before Al Sisi takeover the color of patriotic banners, some speculate that the color of the Egyptian national flag was inspired by the colorful watermelons with its white, red and black (seeds, remember that) look. Most of watermelons in America are sadly seedless.
