Photography by Marie Viljoen. Above: Smoother-skinned, longer fruit are often known as Chinese bitter melon. Different species of bitter melon grow in tropical and subtropical Asia and Africa.

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) has been used for centuries in traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Originating in the Indian subcontinent, it spread ...

winter melon, Chinese okra and bitter squash. In traditional Chinese medicine, these ingredients are considered cooling, so are eaten when it's hot outside (although many of them are also ...

In Indian cuisine, bitter melon is often combined with spices, onions, and tomatoes to create rich, flavorful dishes. Chinese recipes stir-fry it with eggs or black bean sauce, blending savory ...

This basic pork stuffing works well with dried mush­rooms, as well as bitter melon, eggplant and medium-hot fresh chillies. It's best to start soaking the mush­rooms the day before. Good dried ...