Bitter Melon Botanical Name: Momordica charantia
	General Description/History: This cucumber-shaped, pale green vegetable, thought to be native to India, is covered in wart like bumps and eaten when firm and not fully ripe. It is favoured throughout Asia for its health-giving and body-cooling properties. It can be salted or blanched to remove some of its bitterness and stir-fried or braised with meat. It is often stuffed with pork and served in broth. It can also be curried, pickled or boiled and in Southern India is salted and dried.
	Alternative Names: Bahasa: peria Chinese: foo gwa English: bitter gourd or balsam pear Thai: mara
	Availability:  Month  Jan   Feb   Mar   Apr   May   Jun   Jul   Aug   Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec   Availability X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X All Year
	Growing Areas: QLD - Tropical North NT - Northern Territory