For some weeks now, Dutch supermarket Jumbo has had a new product on their vegetable shelves: the Cumelo. The Cumelo is an Italian product, known as Barattiere in Italy. It’s a summery fruit with a fresh and slightly sweet flavour, ideal for warm summer months. The Greenery exclusively takes care of sales for the Dutch market.
The Cumelo is only grown in Puglia, Italy, and as a result, it’s a proper regional product. The Greenery was introduced to the product by their employee Gerard van Loon, who moved to Italy last year. The locals have eaten the product for breakfast or in a summery salad for centuries.
Although the product looks as if it tastes like melon, its fresh and slightly sweet flavour is also similar to cucumbers, albeit with a firmer bite. “Cumelo tastes best when served chilled. It can be eaten as is as a healthy and refreshing snack, but it’s also good in salads, or just with a bit of olive oil,” according to The Greenery.
The Cumelo is available from late May to late September.