As the name suggests, the immature fruits taste somewhat bitter. Especially in the Asian kitchen they are very common. To reduce the bitter taste, the pulp is rubbed with salt. Boiled, fried or filled and baked, the immature fruits are very appreciated because of their bitterness. In some Chinese beers, bitter melons replaced the hops. The fruits are even used as herbal tea and soft drink.

There are 2 varieties with different-looking fruits: the Indian variety has fruits with tooth-like outgrowths, which is the most common. The Chinese variety is wavily wrinkled and almost even.

The bitter melon is spread pantropical, their home are however the tropics of Asia. The plant is an invasive neophyte in many regions, but is also cultivated worldwide as a food and medicinal plant.

• Edible Fruits (unripe)
• Also edible Ripe fruits Leaves and sprouts
• Type of fruit Berry
• Culinary Group Fruit vegetables
• Taste bitter
• Trivial names Bittergurke, Balsambirne, Bittere Spring-Gurke, Bitter gourd, Bitter cucumber, Bitter melon, Carilla gourd, Paria, Wild balsam-apple, Margose, Melon amer, Momordique, Pomme de merveille, Poire balsamique, Concombre africain, Courge amère, Melon amer, Paroka, Mangé coolie, Sorossi, Fausse gombo, Mbeurbeuf, Korolla, Balsamina, Squirting cucumber, Gōyā, Karela, Pavaykka
• Size 15 - 20 cm (ready for harvest)
• Taxonomy Cucurbitaceae (gourd family) Momordica charantia
• Origin South-Asia, Farther India (Map)
• Locality (small fruit) Wissenschaftsgarten Frankfurt (FRG) 2017
• Locality (big fruits) Kleinmarkthalle Frankfurt 2015