Chi qua

Chi qua is the fruit of Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua, a variety of the wax gourd. The fruit is a staple of Chinese diet.

This article is about the fruit. For the moth, see Chiqua.

Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Benincasa
Species:
B. hispida
Variety:
B. h. var. chieh-qua
Trinomial name
Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua
F.C.How, 1954

Etymology

The fruit is commonly referred to in Chinese as chi qua (simplified Chinese: 节瓜; traditional Chinese: 節瓜; pinyin: jiéguā; Jyutping: zit3 gwaa1), but can also be referred to as moa qua or moa gua (Chinese: 毛瓜; pinyin: máoguā; Jyutping: mou4 gwaa1; lit.: 'hairy gourd').[1]

In English, the fruit is known by a variety of names including hairy melon, hairy gourd, hairy cucumber, fuzzy gourd, fuzzy squash, Chinese preserving melon, wax gourd, or small winter melon.[1][2]

Cultivation

The fruit is produced on vines in warm temperatures, at 25°C to 35°C, and is sensitive to frost. [1][2] In China, it is commonly cultivated in Guangdong and Guangxi.[3]

Uses

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.[1] They are prepared and eaten in a similar fashion to summer squash or zucchini.[2] In China, they are usually eaten in the summer.[3] The gourd is also used in Andean, Caribbean, east African, Indian, Mexican, South American and Southeast Asian cuisine.[2]

References
  1. "Chi qua (Benincasa hispida var. chieh-gua)". NSW Government Department of Primary Industries. State of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 2020-05-11. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  2. "FUZZY MELON". Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Queen's Printer for Ontario. Archived from the original on 2020-05-11. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  3. "节瓜（变种） Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. var. chieh-qua F. C. How" [Chi qua (variety) Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. var. chieh-qua F. C. How]. Scientific Database of China Plant Species (in Chinese). Kunming Institute of Botany. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
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