Growing and Saving the Seed Of Bitter Melon
Latin name Momordica charantia, bitter melon is a widespread crop with countless medicinal and culinary uses from many different cultures and can be easily incorporated into many meals! It is fast growing, requires very little care and thrives in hot weather! It goes by many names, including goya, balsam pear, bitter gourd and karela.
HISTORY
Recent scholarship suggests that bitter melon is native to Africa and was domesticated in the tropics of Asia about 6,000 years ago. It’s believed to have made its way to China in the 15th or 16th century, and then on to Japan in the Edo Period of the 16th century.
USES
- Culinary
- Its medicinal properties have been extensively studied, including its usefulness in regulating blood sugar.
