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Post by glen on Jan 15, 2015 9:46:29 GMT -6
I discovered this vegetable while living in Panama. I don't expect much interest in the US but it worth sharing what I know about it. Bittermelon is related to cucumbers or gourds and is in fact also called bittergourd. It is called fuqua by the Chinese. It is called balsamina by the Panamanians. It grows wild here and also in Florida where it is found on people fences and is treated as a weed by many people. In third world tropical country's they eat the gourd and use the leaves to make a tea. This plant is highly nutricional and is touted to be extremely medicinal as well. Around the world, this veggy is used as a veggy in cooking and is very important in India, China, Japan and India. Lots of people eat this veggy everyday believe it or not and in Japan, where it is used in some area's extensively, they believe that eating this veggy helps them live a very long life. You can google the benefits of bittermelon online and see many different articles that talk about this and or list the many medicinal benefits. I am not an herbalist or Doctor so I take all this in with a grain of salt. I can only talk about my experience with bittermelon and how I use it and how it helps me. I don't think this veggy is a miracle cure for anything. But, don't minimize the posible benefits that this plant could offer you. At the very least, take notice of the vitamin and mineral content of this plant when you google it. Some of the information online is not accurate and based on rumors and unsubstantiated evidence. You might find information that states that this plant is poisonous when it is ripe for example. This is totally incorrect, as this plant is not poisonous in any way as far as I know and if it is I should have gotten sick by eating it myself. I eat the fruits Green or ripe. I have been eating it for many months now with nothing but good things to say about it. The fruit and leaves taste bitter. Believe it or not, bitter is a flavor in some places. Not in the US I don't think, except for the ethnic folks. It can be bought in the market in the US I have Heard. The first taste of this stuff sets you back a Little. However, the more you eat it or drink the tea or juice, you begin to become accustomed to the taste. It actually becomes somewhat addicting. I make tea out of the leaves which is extremely easy. Just cut some leaves and boil them for 5 minutes or so. Let it cool, drain off the tea. Mix a Little lemon in it. Get it cold in the fridge. I drink a glass of this in the morning and in the evening on ice. Or, use the Green fruits, slice them down the middle, scoop out the sedes, cut it up, throw it in the blender and puree. Then, pour the mixture thru a sieve. Mix some lemon with it. Drink it cold in the morning and the evening. This is the easiest way to consume this veggy. Google Pharmacy on a fence. There is an article on this page which is not so good. The best information is contained in the comments where people from all over the world have commented on how and why they use this veggy. The articles author provides info that is not well researched and only partially correct.
Benefits that I have noticed while using this veggy. I have been using this veggy in the form of juice and tea for months now. First benefit noticed was increase in energy. I started out feeling a tingly sensation in my feet and hands. That went away after about a week. I suffer digestive problems. You know, angry stomach and flatulance and diaria every day and I have had this issue for many years. This tea puts a stop to all this. It is the only remedy I have ever used that actually worked. My stomach is now calm, no flatulance and rarely if ever do I experience diarhea any longer.
All the other benefits that are claimed by bittermelon enthusiasts cannot be substantiated by me personally. And, there are many.
Growing bittermelon is easy. Just buy seed. Grow it like you would cucumbers on a trellis. There are 2 basic types. Indian(hindu), and Chinese. I use a Chinese variety. And, I do not know whether the Hindu variety is better or not.
Oh, the leaves can be dried to make tea when the plant is out of season. The fruits can also be dehydrated and used later also.
Thank for Reading. I hope that there is someone Reading this that might be interested in growing this veggy.
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Post by macmex on Jan 21, 2015 18:58:01 GMT -6
Thanks Glen,
I grew bitter melon once, when we lived in NJ. But I need to give it another try. No one ever told me, before, how to use it. I bet my goats would even leave it alone, if it got out of my garden fence! I know, in NJ, the deer didn't bother it! Somehow I missed this post until now! This is great!
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Post by glen on Jan 21, 2015 19:18:20 GMT -6
If you grow it and start making juice out of it and actually drinking it everyday you will notice the benefits. We don't know what is actually in those expensive vitamins we take. Nothing is in bittermelon except what the Lord puts in it. And, He evidently puts lots of goody's in it. I am drinking a glass of the juice now. I gave some sedes to a friend who is interested in it for its apparent ability to stabilize blood sugar levels. People in the third world actually believe that drinking the juice cures diabetes. It is common for people in Panama to use it for reducing hypertension. Its supposed to be good for the prostate. It is supposed to clean out your system. They use it to kill internal parasites. It helps to slow the growth of certain types of cancers. I can vouch for its affect in helping the digestive system myself. People also take it to strengthen the immune system. The list is long for the supposed benefits. Whether these claims are true or not would require you to do a Little research. And, it would not be a benefit to the Pharmaceutical company's if any of these claims are true. Bittermelon is super easy to grow. Nothing bothers mine. And, if you can believe it. I actually enjoy drinking it. Took me awhile but I am there. Wow, it'll put hair on your chest when you first drink it. But, your stomach will accept it like it just found a new friend. Very wierd.
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Post by glen on Jan 26, 2015 8:27:39 GMT -6
There is very Little interest in bittermelon. What a shame. Once you try this veggy and juice it and start drinking it regularly it will take on a different appearance to ya. It will become valuable to you because of the percieved health benefits. I have Heard that the fruits are a Little expensive in the store. At any rate, I grow a Chinese variety. I planted them under a plastic mesh trellis about 6 feet high. Plant them about a foot apart. I soaked the seeds over night before direct planting the seeds. I used a Little compost. The plants came up in about a week or so. They start out kind of slow. They like wáter if its hot outside. Once they got about 2 feet tall they started growing faster. When they got about 4 feet tall I started seeing blooms. There are male and female blooms. You will start seeing Little tiny fruits forming. At any time you can start harvesting leaves to make tea. The tea is supposed to be a very affective medicine as well as the fruits. I had to put a small amount of granulated fertilizer around the plants before the fruit would get bigger. The tiny fruits just sat there until I did this. Once I gave em the fertilizer the fruits grew rather quickly. They get about the size of a cucumber and are bright Green at first. Thats when they are the most bitter and are best for juice. The fruits will get away from ya and will start turing orange. I use the orange fruits also to make juice. It becomes much sweeter and less bitter at this stage. The orange fruits actually make pretty good tasting juice when mixed with a Little lemon juice but supposedly are not as medicinal as the bright Green fruits. I use them at all stages of development. When they get orange and a Little soft, that is when you can sabe the seeds. Just Split them down the middle and scoop the seeds out. Clean off the red seed covering and spread them on a plate to dry. Very easy to grow.
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Post by glen on Jan 26, 2015 8:57:41 GMT -6
In the third world we see a lot of feral bittermelon, usually growing on people's fences. I assume that birds eat it and then land on the fence, relieving themselves and then the seeds germinate there. Anyway, most folks first experience here with bittermelon is with this wild variety. My girl friends Mother started her on bittermelon many years ago and it was this wild variety that they use. They swear by this plants medicinal benefits. They start the kids on this stuff at a very Young age. The kids hate it. But, they get sick less often by taking it. Some poor family's send the kids out to pick the wild fruits and they eat it as a food source. Wild bittermelon is very small. Like Little balls on the vine. They eat it Green or orange. I actually planted some seeds. They came up super fast and grew like hell fire. I pulled them up because I didn't want them crossing with my quality bittermelon. Supposedly the health benefits of the wild bittermelon equal the domestic variety's. But, the wild variety is super bitter. Put hair on even my back. I will stick to my Chino variety. Another thing they like to do is to find the orange ripe fruits. They take the seeds out and eat the red seed coverings which are very sweet. They spit out the seeds. To each his own, but I seriously believe that even the red seed coverings are extremely healthy.
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Post by glen on Jan 26, 2015 9:12:47 GMT -6
The first time I ate bittermelon I had purchased some off a produce truck. I used a filipino récipe. They call this stuff ampalaya. Slice 2 fruits long ways, and scoop out the sedes and discard. Chop up the bittermelon. Chop up an onion and 2 italion tomato's. And, some garlic. Saute in some oil, adding season salt and pepper to taste. Mix 3 eggs in a bowl. After sauteing the veggy's for a few minutes add the eggs and stir them around until done. Serves 2. Eat with toast. The bitter flavor is different to say the least because bitter is not an accepted flavor in Western cooking. After you finish eating you will notice that the food, even as foul as you might believe it tastes, slowly will begin to taste better. The second time you try this it might even taste very good. And, you will feel great and ready to go to work in the garden or whatever Project that is in front of ya. This new veggy will actually begin to grow on you. Its an acquired taste. And, it becomes addicting. A must have veggy in the survival garden.
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Post by duckcreekfarms on Jan 26, 2015 9:38:41 GMT -6
Our Farmer's Market in Tulsa has been dominated by Asian Venders the past few year and I see lots of Bitter Melon. I don't know if people are buying it, but they keep bringing it in large quanities..... I have looked at it but haven't been brave enough to try it. It's a very attracive vegetable.....I guess I will try it this summer....
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Post by glen on Jan 26, 2015 18:21:44 GMT -6
I am pretty sure they are buying it in large quantity's. I find that asians are difficult customers. They are picky and demand the very best quality and aren't willing to pay much for it. At least thats the way they are here in Panama. I hate dealing with them in the market. I find that bittermelon is something best grown for yourself. Less frustrating.
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Post by duckcreekfarms on Jan 26, 2015 18:34:17 GMT -6
The Tulsa Farmer's Market is "supposed" to be a vender grower only market. All venders are suposed to only sell produce that they personally have grown. I think they do as I don't know of a wholesaler in the area that has it. But then again there are now several Asian markaet in Town and they get theirs from California and even overseas and probaly do some wholesaling. I might find some seeds and grow some for myself....
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Post by glen on Jan 26, 2015 19:08:30 GMT -6
Grow it the same time you would normally grow your okra or sweet potato's. You just need a fence or trellis. Easy as pie to grow. And, quite a lovely vine with nice blossoms. Seed saving is a snap so you will have sedes forever.
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Post by glen on Jan 26, 2015 19:38:10 GMT -6
Bittermelon juice is super easy to make. Tonight I tried something different. I added a few mint sprigs along with the normal amount of lemon and bittermelon fruits. Only takes 10 minutes to make a half gallon of this stuff. Have fun by experimenting with it. The good thing about making juice is that you can use the culls and the ripe fruits. Use it all. You won't want to waste any of this bittermelon fruit once you get used to its taste. Drink it over ice. I don't use sugar but you could if you wanted.
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Post by glen on Feb 23, 2015 19:54:34 GMT -6
DuckCreekfarms I saw where you said you ordered the bittergourd. I am so glad you are trying it and hope you will let us know how it does for you in the garden and if it will sell in the market. Super cool. I just planted some more and it has come up fast and furiously. My old vines are tired and worn out and need to be replaced by some recharged new vines I guess.
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Post by duckcreekfarms on Feb 24, 2015 8:42:36 GMT -6
This will be my first time growing and even eating Bitter Melon I am getting seeds from a person named Chrisopher and here is what he says about it
"I grow two varieties per year, one at home & one on my rural plot 6 miles away. The wife uses them in an egg & chicken soup, and I occasionally use the leaves for tea. I wish I could get a couple members of my family to eat it, bitter melon is one of the best foods for a diabetic. A Filipino friend of ours likes to pickle the bitterest ones, and a couple other Asian friends come over in late Summer to harvest & freeze the leaves, which by then have overflowed their 6' trellis. They cook the vine tips as a vegetable. The slimy red "jelly" that surrounds the ripe seeds is sweet & edible, you can dry it & add it to rice during cooking to give it a red color.
For those who find the bitterness just a little too strong, there are ways to reduce it. After cutting the green fruit open & scooping out the seeds, cut it into slices, salt it, and allow the salt to pull out some of the bitterness. Rinse off the salt before use. You can also prepare the slices, then parboil them (which is my preferred method). Chances are, though, that some of the health benefits are lost with the reduction in bitterness. "
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Post by macmex on Feb 24, 2015 9:26:04 GMT -6
Gary, if I could ever get a few seed from you... I'd be beholding!
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Post by duckcreekfarms on Feb 24, 2015 16:02:54 GMT -6
George. I will have plenty to share with you
g
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