Different flavors of winter melon punch appear throughout Taiwan. It is prepared by emptying the inside of a winter melon to make an urn. The outside of the winter melon is often carved with artistic patterns. Traditionally, it includes vegetables like okra, winter melon or ash gourd, colocasia, etc. Winter melon soup may have a slightly sweet flavor. Bakeries may also add winter melon to the pineapple jam. This application is possible because winter melon has a waxy, and thus waterproof, rind. One famous dish of this kind is called the "winter melon urn" (). The winter melon is peeled, sliced, and its seeds are removed. In China, winter melon tea is believed to help people deal with hot temperatures.