Bitter Gourd: Local Thai
(Momordica charantia)
Bitter gourd is a vining cucumber relative that has bitter fruit. Grows well in hot and humid conditions. The young green fruit or tender vine tips are consumed as a cooked vegetable or pickled. Fruits are very bitter. The leaves are used to make a tea in some Caribbean countries for treating inflammation and colds. The slimy red sacs (arils) around the mature seeds are also edible but it is recommended not to consume large quantities. The seeds and mature orange flesh can be toxic so only consume fruit when picked green.
6in diameter, 9in long