Why do people slap water melons?

[soihok]

Not limited to Thailand, but the whole of SE Asia.

What's it about?

Playing the water melon like a bongo. I feel embarrassed to have done it myself, not really knowing what I'm doing for apart from "having a thing" with a water melon.

I think its a sub conscious sexual thing, slapping melons, kind of thing, in the middle of a supermarket.

Anyway, just an observation that's all.

Now tomorrow, make your way to a supermarket, road stall or field and knock them melons ...man>

[barefoot1988]

to choose a ripe one. suppose to choose the deepest sounding one

afaik its not a very good metod. better way is to look at bottom. yellowish not white or greenish

[soihok]

By looking at the bottom of the melon to see if the colour is different has nothing to do with slapping it.

The deepest sound? Are you sure?

I am convinced that shoppers are subconsciously enticed by the sight of "melons" and just give them a good old tap, then as they have already committed to this and realise "what the h#ll I am looking for", put on a face that shows that " I am a melon master".

Hmm, works for most, but after observing this I'm quite amused.

[lemoncake]

By looking at the bottom of the melon to see if the colour is different has nothing to do with slapping it.

The deepest sound? Are you sure?

I am convinced that shoppers are subconsciously enticed by the sight of "melons" and just give them a good old tap, then as they have already committed to this and realise "what the h#ll I am looking for", put on a face that shows that " I am a melon master".

Hmm, works for most, but after observing this I'm quite amused.

No, it is about the sound.and only about the sound

[soihok]

Please elaborate.

Is it the sound that gets shoppers going?

[barefoot1988]

By looking at the bottom of the melon to see if the colour is different has nothing to do with slapping it.

The deepest sound? Are you sure?

I am convinced that shoppers are subconsciously enticed by the sight of "melons" and just give them a good old tap, then as they have already committed to this and realise "what the h#ll I am looking for", put on a face that shows that " I am a melon master".

Hmm, works for most, but after observing this I'm quite amused.

well, try slapping a unripe melon and ripe one you would know the difference

[soihok]

Yeeha. Slap that melon.

Do you have any video or sound track to this.

Normally fruit and veg look ripe or not ripe, don't they?

[soihok]

Nothing to do with melons or Thailand, great song though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll8KTae3AA0

[barefoot1988]

not really for melons. like the one below is unripe but skin color are pretty much the same as other ripe melons. in such extreme cases a simple slap would easily sort them out

[soihok]

Nice one, or, nice melons I should say.

But what about the sound, and the issue of slapping melons in the supermarket, street or where ever melons grab your fancy, please elaborate in detail........really like your picture by the way.

[breadbin]

I love melons, big and juicy.

Love to slap and play with them.

Firm must be firm.

[soihok]

Ok, me too, but not in the supermarket or street.

Way off in the field is a different story.

I don't slap melons now, pretending I know what I'm looking for. If the melon looks ok, then the melon is ok......and that's from experience mind.

[soihok]

I live in Kuala Lumpur, not a million miles away from Thailand.

I went to a local supermarket on the way back from work today, not an expensive expat oriented one (although they are the best ones) but very local. I observed many people slapping melons there, I bought one that a lady put back. When I got home I opened up this melon and it was great, so, I would say that the lady didn't know her melons or was just "having the crack, with the melons at the supermarkets expense".

Who knows......I don't.

[Tywais]

I was taught to do it when I was a kid and called 'thumping'. And that was in the US so not exclusively an Asian thing.

[soihok]

Hmm, thumping melons.

It sounds quite cool really. It certainly appeals to shoppers, I thought tapping or slapping was more, well, considerate as most shoppers "thump" the melons on display, then put them back for the next shopper to thump.

Forgive me if I'm wrong.

[soihok]

Thumping Melons sounds like a good name for a band, by the way.

[bonobo]

Pretty much every grocer, chef, housewife, BBQ king, whatever, who I know thumps a melon to check it before buying it. I sure do.

This is done in Thailand, Japan, Korea, and the US, and I would imagine it is done in more places--I just haven't had the opportunity to observe it in those other places.

I don't slap it per se, though, as the sound of the slap would interfere with the resonation from inside the melon.

[jombom]

Slapping a melon will tell you if the seeds are rattling, which means it's ripe ---- Simple really.

[soihok]

Rattling Seeds and Thumping Melons,,,,all by fondling and slapping in markets.

Interesting in deed..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDeyF1i5qqM

[soihok]

Its still an urban myth and collective "thump" in the supermarket .

Happy slapping, tapping and thumping them there melons.

This music is in no way connected to melons, maam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRBIx2FO-fk

[StreetCowboy]

I can't imagine anyone I know putting up with shoppers slapping their melons. Nor squeezing their peaches, or tasting their strawberries.

I suppose I am lucky I have led a sheltered life

SC

[soihok]

Happy shopping, slapping melons at the fruit and veg section.

Don't call me sir, call me Frankie

[StreetCowboy]

frankie.jpg

Happy shopping, slapping melons at the fruit and veg section.

Don't call me sir, call me Frankie

I wasn't going to call you

[soihok]

Its dare!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAOR6ib95kQ

[soihok]

There has got to be a way.

Burning down the house.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNnAvTTaJjM&list=RD02RR08EBkuIyY

[Songhua]

I can't imagine anyone I know putting up with shoppers slapping their melons. Nor squeezing their peaches, or tasting their strawberries.

I suppose I am lucky I have led a sheltered life

SC

Some of them don't like their cherries being taken either.

[StreetCowboy]

I can't imagine anyone I know putting up with shoppers slapping their melons. Nor squeezing their peaches, or tasting their strawberries.

I suppose I am lucky I have led a sheltered life

SC

Some of them don't like their cherries being taken either.

Would you rather a cherry or a clam?

[pattayadingo]

Nice firm buttocks melons, need a good slap every now and again, but not too hard or you will bruise the fruit.

[Payboy]

I do it when they misbehave.

[soihok]

Thumping melons.

Next time I'm down the shop or market I'll take some time to try to thump out a ripe and unripe melon. This may lead to me be escorted out of the shop or market though.

Wish me luck.