How to Make a Glistering Melon Slice in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Surround a melon slice with 8 gold nuggets to craft a glistering melon slice. You cannot eat it - its one job is brewing Potions of Healing from an Awkward Potion.

What you need

1 melon slice
8 gold nuggets
Awkward Potion (for brewing)

Step by step

Get melon slices: break melon blocks (jungle biomes, savanna villages) or grow them from melon seeds.
Collect 8 gold nuggets: one gold ingot crafts into 9, and Nether gold ore drops nuggets directly.
Place the melon slice in the center of the crafting table and ring it with the 8 gold nuggets.
Take the glistering melon slice - note you cannot eat it, it is purely a brewing ingredient.
Brew it into an Awkward Potion at a brewing stand to make a Potion of Healing (instant health).
Extend or amplify: Redstone lengthens duration does not apply here - use Glowstone Dust for Healing II instead.

Java vs Bedrock

Same in Java and Bedrock: melon slice plus 8 gold nuggets, inedible, and brewed into an Awkward Potion it makes a Potion of Healing in both editions.

Versions: Glistering melons date back to Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4, when they replaced ghast tears as the Healing potion ingredient. The recipe cost rose from 1 to 8 gold nuggets in 1.6.1, and 1.13 renamed the item to Glistering Melon Slice.

Frequently asked questions

Can you eat a glistering melon?

No. Despite being melon covered in gold, it is not food - the only thing it does is brew Potions of Healing. Do not confuse it with the golden carrot, which is top-tier food.

How do I make a Potion of Healing II?

Brew a glistering melon slice into an Awkward Potion for Healing I, then add Glowstone Dust to upgrade it to Healing II, which restores 8 health instantly.

Is brewing Healing potions worth the gold?

For boss fights, yes - instant health beats food mid-combat because it needs no eating time. A single gold ingot nearly covers one slice (9 nuggets for 8 needed), so a modest gold supply goes far.