It’s around this time of year that I start dreaming of sweet summer melons. A perfectly ripe watermelon, chilled in the fridge, is the ideal balm for an exhaustingly hot afternoon. Some people might hate on honeydews, but I adore their crisp texture and mild sweetness. My favorite above all others is easily cantaloupe, with its balance of firm yet soft flesh, juiciness, and sweet flavor with a touch of acidity.

For anyone else who’s a melon fanatic, there’s one more variety that should be on your radar, if it isn’t already. Over the past few years, Costco shoppers have been using social media to highlight a new-to-them ingredient that they’ve tried and loved, courtesy of the superstore: the Golden Hami melon. 

Although these warmly-hued fruits may be less common in the United States, varieties of Hami melons — also known as Chinese Hami melons or Snow melons — have been cultivated in China for thousands of years. They’re named after the city of Hami in the Xinjiang region, which is renowned for growing them. Today, they are widely cultivated throughout East and Central Asia, as well as in other regions with suitable growing climates around the world, including California, Australia, and Mexico.

Depending on their source, you might find Golden Hamis in U.S. grocery stores at different times of the year — just as watermelons can be available in winter due to imports from other countries — but they generally have two peak growing seasons in fall and spring. If you can’t already find these melons at your nearest Costco (or grocery store of choice), then it’s wise to be on the lookout for them soon, especially if you enjoy crisp fruits and melons that fall on the sweeter side.

What is a Golden Hami melon?

There are over a hundred varieties of Hamis, and the Golden Hami melon you may have seen on TikTok or Instagram is just one of them. However, Hami melons are a type of muskmelon, a species that includes honeydew and cantaloupe, as well as Canary melons and Crenshaw melons, to name a few. Like honeydew and cantaloupe, all Hami melons, including the Golden Hami, feature a webbed texture that’s visible on their exterior.

Some varieties of Hami have a light green skin with off-white webbing overlaying it, but as the name of golden Hami suggests, its exterior is a vibrant yellow. The flesh inside is a slightly more muted hue, ranging from pale yellow to nearly orange, and the melon has a structure similar to that of a cantaloupe. The slightly elongated, oblong fruit contains a soft pocket of seeds at its core, which can be easily scraped out. (The structure of Hami may remind you of other gourds, which is logical since muskmelons belong to the gourd family.)

What does a Golden Hami melon taste like?

When describing the flavor of a Golden Hami, the most common comparison drawn is one I’ve already mentioned: it’s like a cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew. Golden Hamis (and Hamis in general) are particularly notable for their sweetness and crunchy texture. In addition to evoking other melons, they can also be reminiscent of apples and cucumbers with their refreshing crispness.

How do you eat a Golden Hami melon?

The simplest way to prepare and enjoy this fruit is to cut it in half, scoop out the center full of seeds, then slice it into wedges. From there you can pick up whole pieces of the sweet Hami by the rind, just like you would with any other melon in the summer. Alternatively, you can cut away the rind and cube the Hami, making it easier to eat with a fork.

I recommend using this melon in dishes that benefit from its sweetness, and leaving it raw to enjoy its crisp texture. Consider replacing cantaloupe with Golden Hami to create the classic Italian appetizer of melon and prosciutto, or transform it into a Prosciutto and Melon Burrata Salad with a tangy vinaigrette.

You can also take advantage of the melon’s sweetness by turning it into a dessert with a simple seasoning blend of sugar, cardamom, and fresh mint, then serving it with whipped cream or ice cream.

How can you tell when a Golden Hami melon is ripe?

The number one thing to look for when selecting a ripe Hami melon is smell. You should be able to sense a clearly sweet, subtly floral aroma when giving it a sniff (it will be easiest to smell near the base of the stem). If it has very little or no sweet scent at all, then it’s probably not ripe yet.

In addition to a sweet aroma, look for a slight give in the melon’s surface to determine when it’s primed for eating. You’re not looking for it to be overly soft, but a gentle yield when you press firmly will indicate that it’s ripe. From there, you can proceed to check out at Costco with your sweet, crisp, and ready-to-eat Golden Hami melon.