Basic Chinese Chicken Soup Stock (Soup Base)

Ingredient Name:  Watermelon

Chinese Name:  西瓜 (xī guā)

• Fruit and plant of a vine-like herb
• The fruit is sometimes classified as a melon
• It is normally round with a smooth exterior rind usually in green and yellow and has a juicy, pulpy interior that is sweet and ranges in color from red, yellow, orange or pink
• It is used in a variety of desserts, drinks, and often eaten raw

How do I prepare it?

• Halve the watermelon
• Slice away the skin or rind
• Cube into large cubes

Where can I buy this?

• In any supermarket

What is the cost?

• Watermelon varies depending on size and season, however averages around $3-7 CAD/watermelon

Any benefits?

• Watermelons contain 6% sugar by weight
• They are high in Vitamin C and a good source of carbohydrates
• Watermelons are very concentrated in their water content, coming in at around 91-92% in water weight

Any precautions?

• Watermelons are known to be an extremely “cooling” food
• Women who are pregnant or menstruating should take caution when consuming watermelon
• It is actually forbidden in Chinese culture to consume watermelon if a women is less than 3 months pregnant as the watermelon may trigger premature contractions which lead to miscarriages or premature birth

References 

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon