Is a higher Brix (sugar content) more delicious? Various sayings about 'summer fruits'

 

 

Watermelon and Korean melon: it's good to eat even the skin (O)

 

Watermelon and melon skins also contain beneficial nutrients for the body, so it's good to eat them with the skin on. However, since they are quite tough, you need to consume them carefully.

 

First, watermelon rind is rich in citrulline, which helps promote diuresis, alleviating swelling and relieving dizziness or a feeling of fullness. It is recommended to thinly slice and dry the rind, then brew it in hot water to make tea, or use only the white part of the rind to make cucumber kimchi.

 

The skin of Korean melon is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids, which are effective in reducing bad cholesterol that damages vascular health. It is also known to be abundant in beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, dietary fiber that aids digestion, and potassium and magnesium that help stabilize blood pressure. Like dried watermelon rind, it can be brewed into tea or sliced and eaten as a salad with fruits and vegetables, providing a refreshing and crunchy texture.

 

The higher the Brix, the tastier it is (X)

 

Brix is a unit that indicates the sugar content of fruit per 100 grams; the higher the value, the more likely it is to be sweet and tasty, but it is not an absolute indicator. The flavor of fruit can vary greatly depending on various factors such as sugar content, freshness, aroma, acidity, and texture.

 

For reference, if properly ripened within the period, the resistant starch in the fruit is broken down into sugars, increasing not only sweetness but also the content of antioxidants such as vitamin C, flavonoids, and anthocyanins.

 

There are Brix standards for each type of fruit, similar to meat (O).

 

Just as meat is graded by quality, fruits also vary in Brix depending on the type and variety. The National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service specifies the items (varieties) that can display sugar content and the sugar content standards for each grade, and each distributor has its own specific sugar content standards for different items.

 

Nonghyup Fruit Taste Line, a fruit subscription service of Monthly Nonghyup Taste Line, undergoes a meticulous three-stage quality inspection process. At the beginning of each month, a product selection committee composed of 15 members, including Nonghyup fruit MDs, auctioneers, and consumer panels, selects six types of fruits. These fruits are carefully chosen from the designated production areas by Nonghyup. During this process, fruits that meet Nonghyup's inspection standards and are classified as 'Special' or higher are selected, and only high-sugar fruits that surpass Nonghyup's own sweetness standards through sugar content testing are carefully chosen.

 

Secondly, the Quality Control Team at Anseong Agricultural and Food Logistics Center conducts visual inspections and sugar content tests during the receipt of agricultural products at the origin, ensuring a thorough quality inspection process. Finally, during the commercialization stage of Nonghyup Fruit Taste, the final inspection is carried out by skilled workers at Anseong Agricultural and Food Logistics Center, providing customers with products of the highest quality.

 

■ It is better to tap on melons and chamoe like watermelons before buying (△)

 

You can determine the flesh density by the sound it makes when tapped, but this alone makes it difficult to distinguish good fruit. Therefore, it is helpful to know which types of fruit are good.

 

For reference, melons with a netted pattern that is clear up to the stem and feel heavy tend to be sweeter. Also, if the area near the blossom end (navel) slightly indents when pressed with your finger, it is in the best ripened condition.

The white grooves on the melon are clear, deep, and the size is modest with small flower spots, indicating higher sweetness. Additionally, as the freshness declines, browning occurs on the skin, and the melon’s characteristic aroma becomes more intense.

 

■ Firm peach (firm peach) vs soft peach (soft peach), no nutritional difference (X)

 

There is no difference in sweetness or nutrition, so you can choose based on your preference. Mulberry has a melt-in-your-mouth softness, while Ddakbak offers a crunchy texture.

 

Peaches are a representative summer fruit full of moisture and nutrients. Especially in summer, it is easy to lose potassium through sweating, but peaches contain more potassium than apples, pears, and grapes. They also contain a balanced amount of vitamins and organic acids, making them effective in relieving fatigue. In particular, the yellow-fleshed Huangdao and Tiandao varieties are rich in beta-carotene, which is good for eye health.

 

There are also research results indicating that nicotine metabolites are excreted in urine, which helps with detoxification—be sure to remember this fact!