Bitter gourd, anyone want to try it?

http://www.indo-world.com/bitter_gourd/bitter_gourd_extracts.htm. Very popular in southeast asia and the Indian sub-continent. This is a cute Indian one from Mahyco. A hybrid called Sharp Bite.

Farmerdill,

Do you have seeds for them or are you offering the fruit? I'd like to try it, I crunch on Fenugreek seeds, and also sprout them.

~* Robin

PS: The link you provided keeps coming up with a . on the end. It wouldn't work for me so I did a copy and paste and found that out right away.

This message was edited May 1, 2005 4:09 PM

No, I am just trying to generate some interest in the gourd forum so that it does not die again. The bitter gourd is generating interest among health food/ natural medicine advocates. There is also a growing market base among south asian immigrants.
Evergreen Seeds is a good seed source in the USA. http://www.evergreenseeds.com/evergreenseeds/bitgourbitme.html
The site I entered earlier gives information on the medicinal uses. It is the second site that my search engine brings up and it works fine from there so I will try it again. http://www.indo-world.com/bitter_gourd/bitter_gourd_extracts.htm

Yeah, Farmerdill it does work now. I've seen that gourd in a local, oriental store. She does sell seeds for some of the veggies she likes; so maybe I'll _Ask_? Couldn't hurt!

And thank you very much for the info alert, and links, I am a diabetic.
I still use DonQuai too.
And I always use caution when trying "new" remedies.

~* Robin

Very interesting...but doesn't look like something I would grow for crafts...LOL Thanks though. Jo

Is that the same thing I see advertised as Bitter Melon??

yes

Thanks

I grew these a few years ago. They have a cute little vine. As things are different in different countries, as are common names, it was neat to see the variety offered as Asian as compared to the one offered as African in a huge store here that specialized in food from other countries.

Chele....did you eat any of them??? Jo

Farmerdill, what's the form that they take for medicinal uses? I'm just curious if it's something I can incorporate into my homemade soaps?

TIA ☺

http://www.webindia123.com/garden/vegie/bittergourd.htm A general description of Bitter gourd, its cultivation and uses. The link I posted earlier deals more directly with medicinal uses. The health food supplements are extracts from the fruit by means of solvent chemistry.

This link has recipes for bitter gourds, Cooking removes most of the bitter taste. http://www.bawarchi.com/cookbook/karela.html

This message was edited May 2, 2005 1:08 PM

LOL Jo! Having 'bitter' in the description pretty well kept me from eating them when I grew them and from buying them. :) They are neat though. The fruits are fascinating.

Maybe one could cover them in Milk Chocolate! LOL

They do look like an interesting plant. Jo

roadrunner,

I think Hot Fudge would be better with some coconut on top.

~* Robin

Good thinking!! LOL Jo

Thanks, Farmerdill!

I love bitter gourd curry. It is either fried or made into a soupy dish. Brown sugar is added to dull some of the bitterness. I have 4 of those plants growing in the garden and hope they produce well.

Well, I ate one the other day & kept the seeds. I decided that I liked it raw; because I like to eat Fenugreek seeds. 'Twasn't bad at all! I ate 1/2 at noon, & the other 1/2 before supper.

Do you think the seeds are viable?

~* Robin

Yes, in my experience. But soak them at least overnight first.

DH Bob mastered a dish with stuffed bitter melon some years ago. Maybe this year they will grow well for us.