Melon and coconut milk is a no no for me; I just don't think the two ingredients go together, a bit like pineapple and pizza. It's ridiculously hot today and so I’ve made a thirst-quenching chilled fruit cocktail. Slices of melon are blitzed with star fruit, honey, lime and ginger and gelatinous chia seeds are added. Once set, it is topped with pineapple chunks and slices of star fruit. Both honeydew and star fruit contain 91% water and pineapple 86% water so are great for hydration.

Whist the precise origins of honeydew melon remain somewhat mysterious, historical records suggest it’s from the Middle East/ Western Asia. Ancient civilisations, particularly the Egyptians, revered the honeydew melon as a sacred food. Its journey to the West was during the 15th century, thanks to trade routes and exploration. Subsequently, Spanish explorers transported honeydew melon seeds to California, further expanding its reach. Henry A. Wallace, the American Secretary of Agriculture, shared honeydew melon seeds with China during his diplomatic visit.

The pineapple is native to South America. The name is derived from Guarani which means ‘fragrant and excellent fruit’. It was brought to Europe in the 15th century by Christopher Columbus. Star fruit is native to Sri Lanka, the Moluccas, India and Indonesia and belongs to the wood sorrel family and of the species Averrhoa carambola. This scented fruit was named after a twelfth century Arabic physician and philosopher, Averrhoes. #GlobalApron