Edible Leaves Of The Tropics publication from U.S.
Department of Agriculture
by Franklin W.
Martin and Ruth M. Ruberté
Momordica charantia
Common
Names: Balsam pear, cundeamor
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Description
Momordica
charantia L. (Balsam pear, cundeamor), is a widespread
species known throughout the tropics and the subtropics where it is
often weedy and not utilized, but which approaches a cultivated state
in still other areas. The cultivated and semi-cultivated races have
fruits which are large and attractive. As pointed out by Julia Morton
(1967), it is edible, medicinal, and toxic.
Balsam pear is a vigorous
tropical vine that grows from seed either as an annual or perennial.
The rather thin stems are grooved and slightly pubescent. The leaves
are deeply divided into 5 or 7 lobes. The flowers are yellow,
2-5 cm in diameter, and somewhat attractive. As in the case of many
cucurbits, both male and female flowers are produced. The fruits
develop rapidly. They are spindle shaped, and somewhat spiny. As they
grow they change from green to yellow to pale orange. The ripe fruit
splits and twists, revealing the seeds surrounded by a red aril. The
seeds are attractive to birds and thus are readily distributed.
Many
parts of the plant are used as food or medicine. Children suck the
sweet pulp from the seeds, although sometimes they are cautioned to not
eat too much. The immature fruits are sometimes boiled, without the
seeds. The cultivated varieties are used in oriental cookery, before
maturity, but they must be processed carefully to eliminate their
bitterness.
The tips of the vines are marketed in Southeast Asia, where
they are generally cooked with vegetables, meat, or fish. The small
fruit is also preserved in brine or pickled.
On cooking considerable
bitterness is removed from the leaf. It may be necessary to change the
cooking water. The leaves retain a good color and a firm texture, with
little of the bitterness of the uncooked foliage. The flavor is mild
and unusual. The stems are mostly too tough to eat.
Probably much
remains to be learned of the toxic qualities of Balsam pear. The fresh
juice from the foliage is a powerful emetic, probably removed or
destroyed by cooking. Eating the ripe fruit has caused serious purging
and vomiting, as well as death in extreme cases. The toxicology has
been reviewed in Morton’s paper.
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Bibliography
Martin, Franklin W. "Edible Leaves Of The Tropics." 1979, 2nd ed.,
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research, Southern Region,
Science and Education Administration, doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.119721. Accessed 22 May 2017.
Published 28 Jan. 2018 KJ
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