What is Bitter Melon?
Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) is a member of
the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family, and a relative of
squash, watermelon, muskmelon, and cucumber. The
tropical vine is a tender perennial. The fruit of
this plant lives up to its name - it tastes very
bitter. The surface/skin is bumpy and coated with
glossy light to dark green skin. The inside of the
melon is filled with spongy pulp whose color ranges
from white to light green covering the seeds.
Younger melons are seedless (more like the inside of
a cucumber) and are generally more bitter. Ripe ones
(outside: lighter green with hints of yelow; inside:
bright, bright red) are much milder.
Bitter Melon grows in tropical areas, including
parts of East Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and
South America, where it is used as a food as
well as a medicine. Although the seeds, leaves,
and vines of Bitter Melon all have uses, the
fruit is the safest and most prevalent part of
the plant used for food and medicine.
Bitter
Melon is rich in iron, it has twice
the beta carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium
of spinach, twice the potassium of bananas, and
contain Vitamins A, C, B1 to B3, phosphorus, and
good dietary fiber.
