Should we eat watermelon on Liqiu?
As Liqiu approaches, I recall the custom of eating melons on this day. But by then, the weather has turned cooler, and watermelons are nearing the end of their season—their sweetness and quality are no longer as good as during the peak summer heat. Why eat watermelon at this time?
Watermelon is sweet and cold in nature, clearing heat and detoxifying. It relieves irritability, quenches thirst, and promotes urination.Modern medicine confirms that watermelon, rich in water, glucose, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, can replenish nutrients and combat dehydration. It also lowers blood pressure, softens blood vessels, and alleviates edema. However, moderation is key: excessive consumption dilutes gastric juices, reduces stomach acid, and causes indigestion. Generally, daily intake should not exceed 1 kilogram.Additionally, avoid watermelons frozen for extended periods, as this can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to various illnesses. After the start of autumn, those with weak constitutions should also refrain from eating it.
Why eat watermelon at the start of autumn?
Watermelon was originally introduced to the Central Plains from the Western Regions during the Song Dynasty. The period around the start of autumn coincides with the harvest season for watermelons in the Western Regions, making eating watermelon at this time a tradition of savoring the season's first fruits.According to the "Erban Qiuyu Zhai Suibi" (Notes from the Autumn Rain Studio), women in the Western Regions would go to the fields on the night of the Autumn Equinox to "feel for melons," a practice known as "feeling for autumn." This may be linked to the melon's resemblance to a pregnant woman's belly and the seeds inside symbolizing the hope for sons. In Chinese customs, melons have always been closely associated with the bearing of children.It was said that finding a well-ripened melon during this ritual foretold a girl finding a good husband or a woman bearing many sons. To ensure success, ripe melons were secretly placed in designated spots during daylight hours, allowing women to search for them after dark—transforming the practice into a form of divination. As watermelon cultivation expanded, urban dwellers also adopted eating watermelon on the start of autumn as a seasonal custom.To this day, northerners still refer to eating melons on the Start of Autumn as "feeling the autumn."
On another note, it's said that eating watermelon on the Start of Autumn prevents diarrhea. Similar to the "biting spring" custom at the Start of Spring, regions like Beijing and Tianjin have a "biting autumn" tradition. It's believed that eating melons at this time wards off diarrhea during winter and the coming spring."Miscellaneous Notes from Tianjin: Seasonal Customs": Eating melons at the start of autumn, called "biting autumn," prevents diarrhea. Watermelons were introduced to the Central Plains from the northwest, hence the name "watermelon." A poem praises them thus: "As they slide down, they instantly quench the fiery heat; / As they touch the teeth, they make an icy sound." Around the start of autumn in the northwest, watermelons are just entering harvest season, so eating them at this time is essentially savoring the first fruits of the season.This custom likely spread to southern China during the Qing Dynasty. By the start of autumn, watermelons in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai were nearing the end of their season. People offered various explanations for eating watermelon at this time: some claimed it dispels stagnant heat accumulated during summer, others said it builds yang energy for winter survival. In reality, it was simply the influence of northern customs.
The final reason is that watermelon is no longer suitable for consumption. Today, people increasingly prioritize health-conscious eating.Watermelon is cold in nature, making it ideal for summer consumption. As the weather cools, intake should decrease or cease entirely. Thus, savoring one last watermelon feast on the Autumn Equinox to preserve summer's memory aligns with health principles. Off-season foods are best consumed sparingly. After the equinox, as temperatures gradually drop and watermelon availability diminishes, eating it on this day carries a bittersweet farewell.
Is it advisable to eat watermelon after the Start of Autumn?
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the Start of Autumn marks the transition between summer and autumn. Ancient texts referred to watermelon as "nature's White Tiger Decoction," capable of drawing heat from the pericardium and expelling it through the small intestine and bladder, thereby alleviating intense thirst associated with feverish conditions.While watermelon alleviates summer heat, excessive consumption after the autumn equinox can harm the spleen and stomach. Moreover, watermelon's high water content dilutes gastric juices in the stomach, potentially causing indigestion or diarrhea. This is particularly true for the elderly, who often have spleen and stomach deficiency-cold. They should limit watermelon intake to avoid damaging these organs.
Watermelon's heavy dampness can cause significant internal chill, weakening resistance and increasing susceptibility to illness after autumn. Watermelon refrigerated for extended periods is even more likely to harm the spleen and stomach. Sudden exposure to excessively cold food can cause contraction or even spasm of the gastric smooth muscles and mucosal blood vessels, leading to stomach pain or aggravating existing gastric conditions. It may also trigger pharyngitis or worsen existing throat inflammation.The optimal refrigeration temperature for watermelon is 8°C to 10°C, as this range preserves its flavor best. Limit consumption to no more than 500 grams per serving, and eat it slowly.Watermelon is considered extremely cold in nature. After the start of autumn, the body's yang energy gradually contracts, and the digestive system becomes less tolerant of cold foods. It is advisable to consume warm foods to regulate the spleen and stomach. This approach preserves the body's yang energy, making one less susceptible to colds, diarrhea, or cold hands and feet during winter.This embodies the traditional Chinese medicine principle of "harvesting in autumn and storing in winter." The start of autumn marks a seasonal transition where humans should align with nature—yang energy should be conserved. Eating watermelon triggers a bodily stress response, forcing yang energy to combat the cold, thereby depleting vitality. Thus, those with weak constitutions or cold sensitivities should minimize watermelon consumption after autumn begins.Autumn is prone to diarrhea, and consuming cooling fruits like watermelon further increases susceptibility—especially for children.
Porridge is preferable to watermelon. Watermelon rind porridge combats the high humidity and low atmospheric pressure common after the start of autumn, boosting appetite and regulating digestion.Ingredients: 100g watermelon rind, 50g rice, 15g white sugar. Peel off the outer tough skin of the watermelon rind and dice it. Rinse the rice thoroughly and place it in a clay pot. Add an appropriate amount of water and the diced watermelon rind. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer into porridge. Stir in white sugar to finish.
Should you eat watermelon on the start of autumn? We remind you that autumn calls for reducing pungent foods and increasing sour ones. Especially for middle-aged and elderly individuals, minimize pungent ingredients like scallions, ginger, garlic, and chives in your diet, while incorporating more sour fruits and vegetables. Examples include: pears, persimmons, tangerines, mandarins,kumquats, pomelos, water chestnuts, bananas, sugarcane, pomegranates, figs, olives, carrots, winter melon, lotus root, white fungus, taro, pumpkin, daylily buds, soybeans, soybean sprouts, soy milk, tofu, papaya, mushrooms (shiitake, button),kelp, laver, milk, peanuts, pork, crab, quail and quail eggs, carp, shrimp, etc.