Vegetable
Momordica charantia
A tier
Momordica charantia is the species behind karela, goya, and balsam pear: the warty bitter gourd of tropical Asia. This leaf is the plant, not a regional shape. Buy it when the label is Latin. Karela, goya, and balsam pear describe kitchen forms of the same species.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
Stir FryStuffed
Traits
BitterIdentityLatin TagSame PlantSpeciesTropicalWarty Gourd
History
Botanists used Momordica charantia for the cultivated bitter gourd.
Latin appeared on seed and specialty-produce tags beside karela and goya.