Yubari King
The Yubari King is a cantaloupe cultivar farmed in greenhouses in Yubari, Hokkaido, a small town close to Sapporo.
The Yubari King is a hybrid of two other cantaloupe cultivars: Earl's Favourite and Burpee's "Spicy" Cantaloupe. This hybrid's scientific name is Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus Naud. cv. Yubari King.
Some Japanese people present Yubari King melons as gifts during Chugen. A top-grade melon is to be perfectly round and have an exceptionally smooth rind. A portion of the stem, which is snipped with scissors, is left on top for aesthetic appeal.
At a Japanese auction in 2008, two Yubari King melons sold together for ¥2.5 million. In 2007, the top price paid for a pair of Yubari King melons was ¥2 million.
