Protected local food
Toyohashi Nambu Tougan
豊橋なんぶとうがん
Winter melon from the south of Toyohashi in Aichi, which grows most of the prefecture's crop. The melons are glossy, evenly coloured and nearly blemish-free.
Key facts
- Registered as a protected name
- 2 March 2022
- Region
- Chubu
- Official name in Japanese
- 豊橋なんぶとうがん
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 愛知県豊橋市
Winter melon, summer crop
Tougan, or winter melon, is a big, mild gourd that is harvested in summer but keeps into winter, hence the name. Toyohashi growers store the melons for a while after harvest, which evens out the colour and gives them a glossy, bright skin. That lets them ship over a long season.
Aichi's winter melon capital
Aichi is Japan's second-largest winter melon producer, and Toyohashi grows about 60% of it. The south of Toyohashi city, Aichi, is warm, with plenty of water from the Toyogawa irrigation canal. Growers meet several times a year to compare crops and keep strict standards, and the melons sell for 10 to 30% more than others because few are blemished and little is wasted when they are cut.
Good to know
- Winter melon is mild and soaks up flavour. In Japan it is simmered in dashi, often with a thick starchy sauce, and served hot or chilled.
- Toyohashi is on the Tokaido Shinkansen and still runs a city tram line.
Questions travellers ask
What does tougan taste like?
Very mild and juicy. When simmered it turns translucent and takes on the flavour of the broth.
When is it in season?
Harvested in summer and sold into autumn and winter.
Where it comes from
More protected foods from the same area
Crafts from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.