FOO GWA
Foo Gwa (Momordica charantia), also called Chinese Bitter Melon, is a member of the Cucurbit family. We grow these herbaceous vining plants in our greenhouses, each plant having both female and male flowers, similar to Zucchini and Cucumbers. The fruit itself has a distinctive warty exterior and an oblong shape with a thin layer of flesh surrounding the pith and seeds. The flesh of Foo Gwa is crunchy and watery, not unlike it’s Cucurbit comrade, the Cucumber! Don’t let it’s looks scare you away, the health benefits outweigh any aesthetic oversight!
In season: August to October
Nutritional value: Foo Gwa is exceptionally high in vitamin C, providing 99% your DV! It is loaded with vitamin A, potassium, calcium, zinc and magnesium, as well as catechin, gallic acid, epicatechin, and chlorogenic acid, all of which are antioxidants. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Foo Gwa is a cooling medical food used to clear out Summer heat and detoxify the body.
Storage tips: Foo Gwa stores fresh for about a week. Simply wrap the unwashed gourd in a paper towel and place it inside a perforated plastic bag or covered colander in your refrigerator's crisper drawer! For long term storage, blanch, dry, and freeze!
Culinary uses: They didn’t lie when they named Foo Gwa Chinese Bitter Melon, because boy is it bitter! Don’t fret though — you can either blanch it, or salt it and let it sit for 15 minutes (just as you would Eggplant) to reduce the bitterness. Foo Gwa can be stuffed, stir-fried, or used to make tea!
