Quiz of the Day
Watermelon Day
Monday, 3 August 2026
It's 92% water and 100% summer — dive into the surprisingly rich history and science of the world's most refreshing fruit
1. Where did watermelon originate?
- Southeast Asia
- India
- Central Africa
- South America
Watermelons originated in the Kalahari Desert of Africa, where wild ancestors still grow today. Ancient Egyptians cultivated them over 5,000 years ago — watermelon seeds and paintings of the fruit have been found in pharaonic tombs, suggesting they were placed there as food for the afterlife.
2. What percentage of a watermelon is water?
- 82%
- 72%
- 97%
- 92%
Watermelons are 92% water by weight, which is why they're so hydrating and refreshing in summer heat. Despite being mostly water, they're rich in lycopene — a powerful antioxidant that gives the red flesh its color and may help protect against certain cancers.
3. Which country produces the most watermelons in the world?
- Brazil
- India
- China
- United States
China produces roughly 70% of the world's watermelons — an astonishing dominant share. China is also home to some of the most unusual watermelon varieties, including perfectly square watermelons grown in Japan (originally a Chinese technique) that can sell for over $100 each.
4. Is a watermelon botanically classified as a fruit or a vegetable?
- Both — it's officially both
- Vegetable
- Fruit
- Berry
Botanically speaking, a watermelon is a berry — specifically a type called a 'pepo.' Berries in botany are fleshy fruits developed from a single flower with one ovary. By this definition, bananas, tomatoes, and even avocados are all technically berries, while strawberries are not.
5. What gives red watermelon its distinctive color?
- Lycopene
- Anthocyanin
- Beta-carotene
- Chlorophyll
Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment also found in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and guava. Watermelon actually contains more lycopene per gram than raw tomatoes. Yellow and orange watermelon varieties lack lycopene entirely, getting their colors from different carotenoids instead.
6. Which famous explorer brought watermelons to the Americas?
- Vasco da Gama
- Columbus
- Cortés
- Magellan
Christopher Columbus brought watermelons to the Americas on his second voyage in 1494. The fruit thrived in the New World's climate and spread rapidly — European settlers and Native Americans quickly adopted watermelon cultivation. By the 1600s, it was growing across North America.
7. What is the correct name for the white and green rind of a watermelon?
- Hull
- Exocarp and mesocarp
- Shell
- Peel
The green outer skin is the exocarp and the white inner rind is the mesocarp. Unlike most people who throw it away, the white rind is edible and nutritious. In some cultures — particularly in China, Russia, and the American South — watermelon rind is pickled, stir-fried, or made into preserves.
8. Seedless watermelons were developed through what process?
- Genetic engineering
- Polyploidy (chromosome manipulation)
- Natural selection over centuries
- Cross-pollination with another species
Seedless watermelons aren't GMOs — they're created through a decades-old technique of treating plants with a chemical called colchicine that doubles chromosomes. When tetraploid (4-chromosome) plants are crossed with diploid (2-chromosome) ones, the resulting triploid plants produce fruits with only tiny white seed casings instead of hard black seeds.
9. In Japan, farmers have grown watermelons in which unusual shape to fit refrigerator shelves?
- Square
- Cylindrical
- Pyramid-shaped
- Heart-shaped
Japanese farmers began growing square watermelons in the 1980s by placing young melons in glass boxes as they develop. The novelty has proven so popular that pyramid-shaped, heart-shaped, and even human face-shaped watermelons have followed. These decorative melons sell for hundreds of dollars but are often inedible — grown for display, not eating.
10. What is watermelon seed oil used for?
- Medicine only
- Fuel
- Cooking and cosmetics
- Perfume making
Egusi oil, pressed from watermelon seeds, has been used in West African cooking for centuries. The seeds are high in protein and healthy fats. Watermelon seed oil has also become popular in cosmetics as a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer that absorbs quickly into skin without clogging pores.
11. What world record was set in Tennessee in 2013 with a watermelon?
- Farthest watermelon seed spit
- Largest watermelon grown
- Fastest watermelon eating
- Most expensive watermelon sold
Chris Kent of Sevierville, Tennessee grew a watermelon weighing 350.5 pounds (159 kg) in 2013, setting the Guinness World Record. Competitive watermelon growing is a serious hobby in the American South, with growers carefully controlling soil nutrients, temperature, and irrigation to achieve monstrous sizes.
12. Which amino acid found in watermelon is studied for potential cardiovascular benefits?
- Citrulline
- Glutamine
- Arginine
- Lysine
Watermelon is one of the richest natural dietary sources of L-citrulline, an amino acid that converts in the body to L-arginine, which helps relax blood vessels. Researchers are studying citrulline's potential to reduce blood pressure and improve athletic recovery — meaning watermelon may actually be a sports recovery food.
13. In which country is it traditional to give a whole watermelon as a formal gift?
- Japan
- Russia
- China
- South Korea
In Japan, premium fruit giving is a serious cultural tradition. High-quality watermelons presented in ornate packaging can sell for $200–$600 at specialty fruit shops. The famed 'Densuke' black-skinned watermelon from Hokkaido once sold at auction for $6,100 — the most expensive watermelon ever sold.
14. How many varieties of watermelon exist worldwide?
- Over 5,000
- About 300
- About 50
- Over 1,200
There are over 1,200 known cultivars of watermelon, ranging from tiny 'icebox' varieties that fit in a refrigerator to giant exhibition fruits. They come in red, yellow, orange, and even white flesh. The 'Moon and Stars' heirloom variety features a deep green rind speckled with yellow spots resembling a night sky.
15. What is the traditional way to check if a watermelon is ripe by knocking on it?
- No sound means it's ready
- A sharp, high-pitched sound indicates ripeness
- The softer the sound, the better
- A hollow, deep sound indicates ripeness
A ripe watermelon produces a deep, hollow resonant thump because its interior is dense with juice-filled cells. An unripe melon has a higher-pitched, thud-like sound. You can also look for a yellow 'field spot' on the underside where it rested on the ground — a creamy yellow or white spot means it was left to fully ripen on the vine.