Headline »

Basic Chinese Chicken Soup Stock (Soup Base)

December 24, 2020 – 1:14 pm | 1,344 views

Soup Name: Basic Chinese Chicken Soup Stock (Soup Base)

Traditional Chinese Name: 清雞湯 (qīng jī tāng)

Introduction: This is the base Chinese Chicken Soup stock that …

Read the full story »

Soups for Children

Soups that are designed and suitable for children of all ages.

Spring Soups

Soups designed to remove humidity and cleanse the body of toxins.

Summer Soups

Summer soups that help relieve heatiness, cool the body and provide additional internal moisture for those extra hot days.

Fall Soups

Soups that have have the balance of removing heatiness and are slightly warming. These soups are good transition soups into winter.

Winter Soups

Soups designed to be consumed in the dry and cold winter months where the body needs replenishment of moisture and warmth.

Home » Fruits, Ingredients, Vegetables

Bitter Melon

Submitted by LadyTong on April 8, 2011 – 8:28 pm3 Comments | 11,316 views

Ingredient Name: Bitter Melon, bittermelon

Chinese Name: 苦瓜 (Kǔguā)

An interesting fruit to say the least. I actually DO NOT enjoy the taste of bitter melon (at all), but some people actually LOVE it! This is a very unique melon in that you can find it in soups, stews, teas, drinks, and various Chinese dishes across the spectrum.

What is this?

Usually long, green and bumpy to texture (although some varieties are also yellow) – which also varies the bitterness
It is bitter to taste (even after being cooked)
The Chinese types are usually 20-30 cm in length

How do I prepare it?

Rinse in warm water
Half and remove all seeds
Cut into edible portions for soups or cooking

Where can I buy this?

Available in fresh marts in Hong Kong
Also available in supermarkets

What is the cost?

1 bitter melon about 30cm in length cost around $5-6 HKD

Any benefits?

Helps remove heatiness and eliminate heat
Aids in digestion and stimulate appetite
Have been found to be a anti-cancer agent and improve the immune system
Also helps with dyspepsia and constipation

Any precautions?

Avoid during pregnancies (it is a contraindication)
Be sure to remove all seeds before consuming as can be toxic (especially with children)

Any substitutes?

None, for the bitter taste, no other melon or fruit can replace it

3 Comments »

janetan says:

April 10, 2011 at 8:18 am

hi souplady,
about this melon, i have a suggestion on making it less bitter. after you have clean and slice it, u can use salt to marinate it a while and give it some massage. then rinse..you can try it..
your blog post is really a great one that give all the info so clear and direct..oh ya, i’m from malaysia..have a nice day~
LadyTong says:

April 24, 2011 at 8:56 pm

Jane, That’s great advice – I’ll actually try it with the salt. This may work for fried bitter melon dishes too! Thanks again and appreciate your support & comment. Lisa
LED tubes says:

September 10, 2011 at 6:17 pm

I myself love bitter melons. When my mom cooks it, I don’t know how she does it .. but she manages to remove the bitterness. And that’s how I learned to love them.