Watermelon
Japanese Name:
スイカ
Romaji Name:
suika
Description
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Watermelon (suika in Japanese) is a large, round fruit with a thick green rind and sweet, juicy red flesh inside, dotted with black seeds. It is a popular fruit in summer because of its refreshing taste and high water content. In Japan, watermelons are often enjoyed at picnics, barbecues, and festivals, and there is even a traditional game called suikawari, where a blindfolded person tries to split a watermelon with a stick.
History
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The word "watermelon" comes from the combination of "water" and "melon," referring to its high water content and sweet, melon-like taste. The name has been used in English since at least the 14th century.
Watermelons are believed to have originated in Africa, possibly in the region of modern-day Sudan. Evidence shows that watermelons were cultivated in ancient Egypt more than 4,000 years ago. Images of watermelons have been found in Egyptian tombs, and seeds were discovered in King Tutankhamun’s tomb.
From Africa, watermelon spread to the Mediterranean, then to Europe and Asia through trade routes. It was brought to the Americas by European colonists and African slaves.