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Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua
Also called Winter Melon, Ash Gourd, White Gourd, Chinese Preserving Melon, Chinese Watermelon, Waxgourd, Ash Pumpkin
Chi qua is a variety of wax gourd (Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua) grown as a warm-season vine for its large, hairy fruit, a staple in Chinese cooking. Key to success is plenty of heat and protection from frost.
Chi qua is the fruit of Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua, a variety of the wax gourd. The fruit is a staple of the Chinese diet.
The fruit is produced on vines in warm temperatures, at 25°C to 35°C, and is sensitive to frost. In China, it is commonly cultivated in Guangdong and Guangxi.
Chi quas, covered by a coating of fine hairs, must be prepared carefully to avoid skin irritations. While young chi quas can be eaten raw, they are usually cooked. They are prepared and eaten in a similar fashion to summer squash or zucchini. In China, they are usually eaten in the summer. The gourd is also used in Andean, Caribbean, East African, Indian, Mexican, South American and Southeast Asian cuisine.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Chi qua by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
