Malaysian farmers have finally discovered how to grow prized Japanese muskmelons, regarded as ‘art pieces’

Farmers regularly rub the melons with a soft cloth to enhance their flavour, and play classical music over speakers in the greenhouses, which is believed to stimulate growth

Since the last century, farmers in Japan have been perfecting the art of cultivating these melons, which are prized for their taste and precise spherical shape

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A farmer polishes a Japanese muskmelon with facial pads at Mono Farm in Putrajaya. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:38pm, 16 Apr 2021Updated: 2:39pm, 16 Apr 2021

After more than a decade of experimenting, a trio of Malaysian farmers say they have found the right concoction of nutrients and treatments to successfully grow Japanese muskmelons, one of the world’s most expensive fruits.

The farmers at Malaysian company Mono Premium Melon regularly rub the melons with a soft cloth or glove, a practice called tama-fuki said to enhance their flavour, and play classical music over speakers in the greenhouses, which is believed to stimulate growth.

“Every single Japanese melon that you see in our farm is almost like an art piece,” said Seh Cheng Siang, director and co-founder of Mono, at the company’s farm in Malaysia’s administrative capital Putrajaya.

Since the last century, farmers in Japan have been perfecting the art of cultivating these melons, which are prized for their taste and precise spherical shape, and are sold in high-end shops as luxury items.

In attempting to match this quality, the farmers have had to contend with Malaysia’s hot and humid tropical climate, a world away from the more temperate conditions in Japan.

“We have to make sure that nutrition, the watering and the fertiliser are done very consistently and precisely,” said Seh, adding that they tried growing more than 10 varieties of Japanese melon, before they found the right one.