Nationally guaranteed: Six varieties of Hualien bitter melon are anti-inflammatory, regulate immunity, and improve diabetes
The small to medium-sized wild bitter gourd varieties "Bitter Gourd Hualien No. 1-5," bred by the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (hereinafter referred to as the "Hualien Station") for their health-promoting benefits, have been licensed for mass production. Both the fresh fruit and processed products are currently popular items on the market. These bitter gourd varieties were tested and researched by the "Bitter Gourd Research Team of the National Biotechnology Program" under the National Science Council, which confirmed they contain specific compounds, can regulate physiological functions, and are food ingredients with health-promoting benefits that we want to recommend to everyone.
20 years of breeding, 6 bitter gourd varieties developed, 5 already licensed
After more than 20 years of bitter gourd breeding, 6 excellent varieties, "Bitter Gourd Hualien No. 1-6," were developed between 2005 and 2016. Except for "Bitter Gourd Hualien No. 2," whose fruit is somewhat white, the fruits of the others are all green. The fruits of "Bitter Gourd Hualien No. 1-3" and "Bitter Gourd Hualien No. 6" are about 150-220 grams in size, roughly 1/3 the weight of large bitter gourds, very suitable for small families; while "Bitter Gourd Hualien No. 4-5" are dark green, and their fruit size and the pointed protrusions on the fruit surface are also closest to wild bitter gourd, with fruit size about 20-50 grams, suitable for making specialty dishes or processed products.
All 6 bitter gourd varieties have high fruiting capacity and high yield characteristics; the fruits are rich in vitamin C and folic acid, and have high antioxidant capacity. They were the earliest materials provided to the Bitter Gourd Research Team of the National Science Council's National Biotechnology Program for research and development on anti-metabolic syndrome, improving blood sugar regulation in prediabetes, anti-inflammation and immune regulation, and the diverse health functions of bitter gourd. Test results show that bitter gourd can not only be used as a general vegetable, but also possesses specific compounds, can regulate physiological functions, and is a food ingredient with health-promoting benefits.
Fruit appearance and capsules and tablets of Bitter Gourd Hualien No. 1 and Hualien No. 2
Mass-produced by organic farms or biotech companies, now available for purchase
Currently, "Bitter Gourd Hualien No. 1-5" have been successively licensed to 12 organic farms or biotech companies for mass production, and harvesting began in May. Bitter gourd fresh fruits and processed products labeled with the variety names can be purchased at organic stores.
The Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station stated that currently licensed bitter gourd producers include Guanzizai Organic Farm, Qilai Meidi Organic Farm, Rencheng Organic Farm, and Fenghe Organic Farm in Hualien; Luyuan Organic Farm in Yilan; Nongda Industry in Kaohsiung; Shennong Pangu Organic Farm in Miaoli; Anji Biotech Company in Hsinchu and Huanyu Biotech Company in Taipei, among others.
The above companies produce bitter gourd through organic farming methods. The fruits are beautifully shaped and taste very good, suitable for various ways of eating such as salads, soups, stir-frying, and juicing. Other related health products including bitter gourd tea, bitter gourd tablets, bitter gourd capsules, etc., can easily be found and purchased in stores or online. Now is the best time to try them fresh.