White Bitter Melon - A Fruit-like Bitter Gourd

Bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd or balsam pear, is one of the most common vegetables in summer.

As the name suggests, it tastes very bitter! Some people like bitter melons despite the taste. One important reason is allegedly eating bitter melon can help boost one's appetite. However, some people dislike the bitter taste and stay away from this vegetable.

But in recent years, a novel vegetable (or fruit) called "white bitter melon" has appeared in some supermarkets and even fruit shops. It looks extremely like bitter gourd, but it is more a fruit than a vegetable. Because it can be eaten raw as a fruit, it is also sold as a fruit by some merchants, and more often appears in fruit shops. 

The price of white bitter melon is usually four or five times that of bitter gourd.

What Is White Bitter Melon?

This is a new variety of bitter gourd originated from Taiwan in 1987 and now cultivated in my regions worldwide. In 1998, two local species of bitter gourd were selected from Xincheng Township and Ji'an Township in Hualien, Taiwan. After years of screening and cultivating, finally this new hybrid of bitter melon was obtained in 2005. 

It resembles bitter gourd, though looks much better. The skin of white bitter gourd is exquisite (though equally warty) and white, which it's named so. Its original Chinese name is literally "White-jade bitter melon", that is to say, as white as jade.

In addition, the flesh of white bitter melon is thicker, the juice is richer, and the taste is more crisp. The most important point is that ordinary bitter gourd is not suitable to be eaten raw because it tastes grossly bitter.  But white bitter gourd is different. Its bitterness is very light, much lighter than the common green bitter gourd, and even sweetness can reach more than 6°, so it can be eaten as a fruit. If you cook it, you don't need to soak it at all, and it won't be too bitter even cooked directly.

White bitter melon is a little expensive because of its novelty and scarcity. But many curious people would readily pay for it. Especially for those who are keen to fitness and keep a diet, they regularly have it as fruit.

Nutritional Value of White Bitter Melon

The nutritional value of white bitter melon is very high:

1. Promote diet, reduce inflammation and reduce fever: Momordica charantia glycosides and bitterness elements in bitter gourd can increase appetite, invigorate the spleen and appetite; the alkaloid substance quinine contained in it has the effects of diuresis and blood circulation, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic, and clearing the heart;

2. Lower blood sugar, lose weight and lose weight: The fresh juice of bitter gourd contains momordica charantia glycosides and insulin-like substances. It has a good blood sugar lowering effect and is an ideal food for diabetic patients;

3. Anti-cancer and anti-cancer, adjuvant therapy: Bitter melon protein components and a large amount of vitamin C can improve the immune function of the body and make immune cells have the effect of killing cancer cells; bitter melon juice contains certain protein components, which can strengthen the ability of macrophages, clinically The above is effective for lymphosarcoma and leukemia; trypsin inhibitors extracted from bitter melon seeds can inhibit the proteases secreted by cancer cells and prevent the growth of malignant tumors.