Bitter gourd
| Momordica charantia | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus: | Momordica |
| Species: | M. charantia |
| Binomial name | |
|
Momordica charantia L. |
|
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 79 kJ (19 kcal) |
|
4.32 g
|
|
| Sugars | 1.95 g |
| Dietary fiber | 2 g |
|
0.18 g
|
|
|
0.84 g
|
|
| Vitamins | |
| Vitamin A equiv. |
(1%)
6 μg
(1%)
68 μg1323 μg
|
| Thiamine (B1) |
(4%)
0.051 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) |
(4%)
0.053 mg |
| Niacin (B3) |
(2%)
0.28 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) |
(4%)
0.193 mg |
| Vitamin B6 |
(3%)
0.041 mg |
| Folate (B9) |
(13%)
51 μg |
| Vitamin C |
(40%)
33 mg |
| Vitamin E |
(1%)
0.14 mg |
| Vitamin K |
(5%)
4.8 μg |
| Minerals | |
| Calcium |
(1%)
9 mg |
| Iron |
(3%)
0.38 mg |
| Magnesium |
(5%)
16 mg |
| Manganese |
(4%)
0.086 mg |
| Phosphorus |
(5%)
36 mg |
| Potassium |
(7%)
319 mg |
| Sodium |
(0%)
6 mg |
| Zinc |
(8%)
0.77 mg |
| Other constituents | |
| Water | 93.95 g |
|
|
|
|
|
| Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database |
|
Momordica charantia, known as bitter melon, bitter gourd, bitter squash, or balsam-pear, is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit. Bitter melon also has names in other languages which have entered English as loanwords, e.g. goya from Okinawan, pākal (பாகல்) in Tamil and karela from Sanskrit. Those from the Caribbean island of Jamaica commonly refer to the plant as cerasee. In Brazil this plant is called Saint Cajetan's Melon (melão-de-são-caetano).
Bitter melon originated in India and was introduced into China in the 14th century. It is widely used in East Asian, South Asian, and Southeast Asian cuisine.
This herbaceous, tendril-bearing vine grows up to 5 m (16 ft) in length. It bears simple, alternate leaves 4–12 cm (1.6–4.7 in) across, with three to seven deeply separated lobes. Each plant bears separate yellow male and female flowers. In the Northern Hemisphere, flowering occurs during June to July and fruiting during September to November.
The fruit has a distinct warty exterior and an oblong shape. It is hollow in cross-section, with a relatively thin layer of flesh surrounding a central seed cavity filled with large, flat seeds and pith. The fruit is most often eaten green, or as it is beginning to turn yellow. At this stage, the fruit's flesh is crunchy and watery in texture, similar to cucumber, chayote or green bell pepper, but bitter. The skin is tender and edible. Seeds and pith appear white in unripe fruits; they are not intensely bitter and can be removed before cooking.
...
Wikipedia