汴梁西瓜是開封的傳統(tǒng)特產(chǎn)，馳名古今，暢銷中外。其特點是：皮薄汁多，瓢沙脆甜，清利可口。民間素有"肖縣石榴碭山梨，汴梁西瓜紅到皮"之諺語。因開封古稱"汴梁"，萬事故開封一帶生產(chǎn)的西瓜都叫"汴梁西瓜"。
      
    西瓜原產(chǎn)于非洲熱帶沙漠地區(qū)，有四千多年的種植歷史。約于公元十世紀(jì)（五代十國時期）由西域移植我國，先在回鶻（現(xiàn)新疆境風(fēng)）栽培，后傳入內(nèi)地，因瓜種來自我國西部，故名西瓜。
      
    西瓜雙名寒瓜，為葫蘆科一年后草本植物。西瓜不僅是盛夏消暑解渴之上乘佳品，更兼有多種用途。其瓢、皮、籽均可入藥，有消煩止渴，解暑熱，寬中下氣，利小水，治血痢，解酒毒，治口瘡，清肺潤腸，補中宜人之醫(yī)療功用。西瓜皮還能做菜。
      
    汴梁西瓜在北宋種植已很普遍，在張擇端的《清明上河圖》上就有表現(xiàn)。開封一帶氣候溫和，夏季雨水均勻，沙壤土質(zhì)較多，適宜西瓜的增長。加之開封人民長期以來積累豐富的西瓜種植經(jīng)驗，把西瓜作為鄉(xiāng)土珍品精心種植，不斷改進(jìn)，使開封西瓜逐漸成為中州著名的特產(chǎn)。

    Bianliang watermelon is a traditional specialty in Kaifeng City, which enjoys a high reputation for a long time and owns a world-side sale. This watermelon breed is thin-skinned, succulent and sweet.
      
    Watermelon is also called Cold Melon, which belongs to curcurbitaceae and annual herbs. It is not only a superior food to clear summer heat, but also has many other usages. Its sarcocard, peel and seeds all can be made into medicines which have functions of clearing summer heat, quenching thirst, curing bloody flux, curing canher, etc. Besides, watermeion peel can also be used to cook dishes.