Called balsam pear or balsam apple, the botanical name is Momordica charantia. It is an annual or short-lived perennial vine native to sub-Saharan Africa, and apparently introduced into warmer ...

1.one or two balsam pears, clean them up and scouge all the seeds out. 2.Slice them, not too thin. 3.Add a little salt and boil water. 4.When it's boiling, put all the slices in for about 1 minute.

Balsam pear. (Courtesy Tom Hirsch) Q. In a recent article, you mentioned the balsam pear or bitter melon. Shouldn’t we mention the red seeds are poisonous and might be tempting for children to eat?

ANSWER: The balsam pear, also called bitter melon, is colorful and grows on a vine with deeply cut, attractive foliage. It is a species of the genus Momordica. It’s mainly a decorative and often ...

Balsam apple and/or pear is often described as a popular vegetable in parts of Africa and Asia with many medicinal properties. In some parts of the world, it is even featured on postage stamps.

Gardening columnist Charlie Giedeman talks about balsam seeds, also known as balsam pear or bitter melon. Occasionally, the gardens of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home in Virginia, have ...

Salam said that, in unpublished studies, balsam pear extract controlled the blood sugar levels of diabetic volunteers. Khaled Abd El-Wahab, professor of internal disease at the University of Zagazig, ...