Refreshing Melon sa Malamig (Filipino Cantaloupe Juice)

The May gray and June gloom are making us long for sunny beach days, but thankfully we can still taste a bit of the tropics with this refreshing and sweet Filipino treat – Melon sa Malamig!

Melon sa Malamig is a refreshing Filipino beverage made from fresh cantaloupe, simple syrup, and water. Served over ice, it is the perfect drink for a hot summer day or to accompany any Filipino meal.

Our recipe requires only three ingredients and is an incredibly easy recipe to make. If you love convenience without sacrificing deliciousness, explore our blog for 5 ingredients or less recipes!

Make this a day before you plan to serve it, so the flavors can develop and meld together in the fridge overnight.

You’ll love how light, sweet, and refreshing this drink is! We’ve served this at family gatherings, barbeques with friends, and summer beach days, and it’s always a crowd favorite.

In this blog post, we’ll teach you how to prepare the cantaloupe, make the simple syrup and serve up a delicious batch of Melon sa Malamig. Keep reading for the full recipe!

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Table of Contents

What is Melon sa Malamig?

Melon sa Malamig is the most refreshing drink you’ll ever taste. This cantaloupe-based drink is a Filipino summer favorite, especially during hot and humid days.

Many Filipino-Americans simply call this drink “melon juice,” “melon chiller,” or “melon refresher” in English and have fond childhood memories of sipping on this refreshment.

This drink tastes sweet and has a light, fruity flavor that will quench your thirst and leave you feeling refreshed.

The long pieces of melon add a unique texture and accentuate the drink’s flavor, making it an excellent beverage for those looking to try something new.

You’ll often find this beverage being sold by street vendors in the Philippines, especially during summer.

In the US, it’s commonly found at Filipino restaurants and Filipino markets (if you haven’t been to Filled Market in LA yet, we highly recommend it).

We also know most of our Filipino friends and family have someone in their household who has made this refreshing drink before.

But if you aren’t lucky enough to have someone making it at home, we’ve got you covered with our easy-to-follow Melon sa Malamig recipe!

What does Samalamig mean?

The phrase “sa malamig” can loosely mean “here for cold drinks” which is what vendors would shout to attract customers on the streets of the Philippines.

Nowadays, the word “samalamig” is used to describe a family of Filipino drinks served cold and made from a combination of different fruits, tapioca pearls, jelly cubes, or seeds.

Melon sa malamig roughly translates to “chilled melon” or “cold melon drink.” It is one of the most popular varieties of Samalamig and is loved by many Filipinos due to its refreshing taste, especially on a hot summer day.

What to Serve With Melon sa Malamig

Melon sa Malamig pairs well with many traditional Filipino dishes, especially those with strong and savory flavors.

Street foods such as lumpia, barbecue skewers, and Filipino-style fried chicken are great options to enjoy with this refreshing drink.

This drink also goes surprisingly well with dishes that have a bit of spice, as the sweetness of the melon helps to balance out the heat.

If you’ve been to taco stands, you might recognize the similarity with Mexican agua frescas which are also refreshing drinks made from fresh fruits. They go great with spicy tacos and other Mexican dishes in a similar way that Melon sa Malamig complements Filipino cuisine.

When thinking of pairing food, it may be helpful to think of Melon sa Malamig as the Filipino version of a melon agua fresca!

We highly recommend you try Melon sa Malamig with spicy food for an amazing combination!

Equipment You Need For Melon sa Malamig

There is minimal equipment needed to make Melon sa Malamig. You will need:

• Our Place Chef Knife
• cutting board plastic or non-absorbing material. See Note 1.
• large beverage pitcher
• mixing bowl(s)
• fine mesh strainer
• saucepan
• melon scraper or box grater or fork

Note 1: We highly recommend using a cutting board made of plastic or any material that doesn’t absorb liquids because it’ll allow you to gather all the juices and make use of them!

The Best Methods for Shredding Melon

Before we get started with the recipe, let’s talk about shredding the melon.

Traditionally, there is a special melon scraper tool used to shred the melon into noodle-like strips. They are inexpensive and can be found online or on Amazon.

However, if you don’t have one of these tools at home, don’t worry! You can also use a large grater or a fork.

We’ve tested out Melon sa Malamig using all three shredding methods. Not surprisingly, the melon scraper is the best at getting consistent and even strips. To use it, simply scrape in one direction, applying slight pressure to the melon until you have shredded it all.

Our box grater (using the largest side) came in second place as it gave us finer strips in varying lengths, but the texture was still great. To use the box grater, cut the melon into manageable pieces and grate the fruit as you would with cheese.

Finally, we would recommend using a fork as a last resort, because it shreds the melon into short and tiny pieces (this changes to overall texture of the drink,) but it still gets the job done if you’re in a pinch. To use a fork, scrape at the melon in one direction. This method may be slower, so consider asking for help!

Note 2. Don’t have a melon scraper? Try a box grater (using the largest side) or a fork!

How to Store Melon sa Malamig

Melon sa Malamig must be refrigerated for at least 24 hours before serving.

This allows time for the flavors to fully meld together.

This juice will be good for up to one week in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container, such as a pitcher with a lid or mason jars. If you notice any off odors or colors, discard it immediately.

Ingredients

• 4-5 lbs cantaloupe
• 8 cups water
• simple syrup (See Note 4.)

Note 3. Some may prefer a creamier drink, so consider adding condensed milk or evaporated milk to your serving cup to achieve that desired texture. We don’t recommend adding it to the entire pitcher, since we have heard that it may turn the drink bitter over time.

Simple Syrup

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups sugar

Note 4. You can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less of the simple syrup. However the amount listed in the recipe is a good starting point and is usually a crowd-pleaser.

Recipe

1. In a saucepan, make the simple syrup by dissolving the sugar in water. Bring it up to boiling then turn off the heat. Let it cool to room temperature while preparing the melon.

1. Scoop out all the seeds and set them aside for later.

1. Shred the melon. To use the melon scraper, simply scrape in one direction, applying slight pressure to the melon until you have shredded it all. See Note 2.

1. Place a fine mesh strainer over the shredded melon. Strain the juice from the seeds. This juice is the sweetest part, so it is an important step to collect all the flavor from the melon! Discard the seeds once done.

1. Combine the shredded melon, syrup, and water in a pitcher. Stir well.
2. Cover and let it sit in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Serve over ice.

Final Thoughts

A simple, refreshing drink made with the juiciest melon and lovingly shredded by hand; Melon sa Malamig is a classic Filipino beverage that never goes out of style.

Thanks for reading! If you liked this blog post, check out more of our beverage recipes!

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References & Further Reading

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samalamig