Winter melon is eaten in summer, but why is it called winter melon instead of summer melon?

There is an idiom in China called "as the name implies". According to the explanation of this word, wax gourd should be a melon that grows in winter. If you don't call it melon, PHS thinks it should be called a fool!

Ha ha, get to the point, let's talk about the mystery of the name of wax gourd. Wax gourd is an annual climbing herb of Cucurbitaceae, which was called white melon, water melon and pillow melon in ancient times. The fruit of wax gourd can be eaten, and the seeds and exocarp can also be used as medicine. It can be said that the whole body is treasure.

Wax gourd originated in China, and its history can be traced back to Qin and Han Dynasties. At that time, it was recorded in Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, which was called "water".

Since ancient times, wax gourd is people's favorite summer food and medicine. Why is it called "winter melon" instead of "summer melon"?

This is because the wax gourd is ripe and covered with frost, which looks like winter snow falling on it. Summer and autumn are hot and very pleasing to the eye, hence the name "winter melon".