Bitter Melon

Bitter melon has no counterpart in the Western world. It has a slightly bitter flavor (which comes from quinine; in fact, the melon is often dried and used as a medicine in China), and like beer, which also has a bitter flavor, it is an acquired taste but one that’s easy to develop. The vegetable is attractive, rather like a gourd with its bumpy surface. Dark green bitter melons are the youngest and least bitter. As they mature, they become yellow-green, bright yellow, and finally brilliant orange, growing progressively stronger in taste. Blanched and cooked in chicken broth, they make a refreshing soup, especially in their more mature stages.