I love stuff like this, there is tepache in the fridge right now, and I was just bemoaning tossing some watermelon rinds (I grew the watermelon so wanted to use all but don’t like sweet pickles, which is the only thing I knew how to do with the rinds). Often there is so much flavor in the parts we throw out, just difficult textures.
Ok I am making the watermelon rinds cordial and think the measurements must be backwards. She has 2 parts sugar to 1 part rind, I did 1.5/1 and it’s still an insane looking project. Next time I will try 2 parts rind 1 part sugar.
ETA it ended up more like watermelon syrup, there was undissolved sugar till the end but I added some water and blended it. Also this sure wanted to ferment, next time I am making some kvass with it instead.