Sweetness and flavor are not well correlated. Small melons that are sweet but have no flavor are of poor eating quality and bland taste. Commercial small melons belong to three main botanical groups. Fruits are medium sized, with a netless, warty rind. The true cantaloupe and French Charentais melons belong to this group.
Fruits have netting and a thick flesh that can be orange, white, or yellow.
Eastern and western muskmelons and Persian melons belong to this group. Rind appearance and flesh color depend on the type of melon. Western cantaloupes are egg-shaped, totally covered by a net, have no sutures, and weigh 2 to 3 pounds each. Eastern cantaloupes are round or elongated, have marked sutures, a light to medium net, and weigh 4 to 7 pounds each. Melons in the third group of commercial cantaloupes are called French Charentais.