🍲 Mogura-uri-no-hiyajiru (Mogura melon chilled soup）

"Mogura-uri-no-hiyashijiru " is a local dish from the Mogura region in Hayakawa Town, situated at the foothills of the Southern Alps at an altitude of 800 meters. This dish features Mogura melon, a type of melon that has been cultivated in the region for generations, with a tradition of self-seeding for 130 years. The melon is julienned and added to a cold broth, then seasoned with miso and condiments. It is served over rice, creating a refreshing mountain-style cold soup. This dish is simple and perfect for the hot summer, representing a local specialty with a history of 130 years. "Mogura melon" resembles a cucumber when young, but as it matures, it takes on a stout and robust form, growing larger similar to winter melons. The skin of Mogura melon can vary in color, ranging from dark green to yellow or brownish. However, when peeled, the flesh is a light green and juicy. The taste of Mogura melon is not as strongly aromatic as cucumber, and it lacks any distinctive off-flavors. The texture is crunchy and goes well with cold soup. Because melons are easily cross-pollinated, in the Mogura region, they are not planted in the same fields as cucumbers or bitter gourds. Instead, they are cultivated in the lower communities' land to avoid crossbreeding.