Bitter Melon

Bitter melon is a tropical and subtropical vine of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean for its edible fruit, eaten as a vegetable despite its pronounced bitterness. Its many cultivated varieties differ substantially in the shape and intensity of bitterness of the fruit. It is a common ingredient in Chinese, Indian, Southeast Asian and Caribbean cooking, typically stir-fried, stuffed or added to curries and soups.