Can I only buy it in season?
It is listed as available all year round. However, the varieties and stock on sale differ from stall to stall, so look at whole fruit and prepared fruit separately.
Watermelon
Watermelon · แตงโม
Try watermelon as a drink in Thailand too. As well as chilled slices, there is nam taeng mo pan, blended with ice. It is worth choosing on a day when you are walking and want something cold. If you only want the fruit, buy cut watermelon and share it with your companion.
Taiwan 2009 Tainan City Organic Farm Watermelon FRD 7962 · Fred Hsu (Wikipedia:User:Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized for display · Photo used under CC BY-SA 3.0
When is the best time to eat it?
On sale all year
Listed as available all year
Use the main season, or the harvest period for regional fruit, as a guide. Actual availability can vary with the growing area, the variety and the weather.
What does it taste like?
It is a crunchy, juicy fruit. The fresh fruit and nam taeng mo pan, blended with ice, are enjoyed for their different textures.
Why this fruit is well known in Thailand
The Tourism Authority of Thailand presents the watermelon shake as a signature fruit drink. Even a familiar fruit can be met in a different way on a trip, as in nam taeng mo pan.
Good to know before you buy
- Thai name
- แตงโม
- Harvest period
- On sale all year
- How it is sold
- Keep the kilo price of whole watermelon apart from a bag of sliced watermelon and a cup of nam taeng mo pan. Even with the same watermelon, the preparation and the amount of the drink differ.
How to prepare and eat it
- Cut whole watermelon to a size that is easy to eat and pick out the seeds.
- While travelling, you can also choose cut watermelon in a bag to eat straight away.
- If you order nam taeng mo pan, ask before the drink is made whether the sweetness can be reduced.
A guide to prices
Bangkok retail prices · 14 October 2026
These are prices by variety and grade, surveyed by Thailand’s Department of Internal Trade. They do not apply to every stall on the street.
| Fruit and variety | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Watermelon · Kinnaree (กินรี) | 25–30 baht | 1 kg |
Keep the price of a bag or tub of cut fruit separate from the per-kilo price of whole fruit. Bananas are priced per bunch in this survey.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a per-kilo price with the price of a tub?
Keep the kilo price of whole watermelon apart from a bag of sliced watermelon and a cup of nam taeng mo pan. Even with the same watermelon, the preparation and the amount of the drink differ.
Keep exploring
Official sources and references
If you would like to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are worth a look. Ingredients and cooking methods can vary from one cook to the next.
Sharing image credit: Fred Hsu (Wikipedia:User:Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia) · CC BY-SA 3.0