What is bitter melon?

Bitter melon is a green, bumpy gourd (Momordica charantia) used as a vegetable in Asian cuisines. It is also called bitter gourd, karela, ampalaya, kugua, and muop dang.

How do you reduce the bitterness of bitter melon?

Cut the bitter melon in half, scrape out the seeds and white pith, slice, then salt it for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse. Blanching briefly or pairing it with egg, pork, or fermented black beans also softens the bitter edge.

How do you cook bitter melon?

Slice it and stir-fry with egg, pork, beef, or black beans, simmer it in soups with pork ribs, stuff it with meat, or cook it with spices as karela sabzi.

What is the difference between Chinese, Indian, and white bitter melon?

Chinese bitter melon is long, pale green, and bumpy, and generally milder. Indian bitter melon is dark green, narrower, with sharper ridges and more bitterness, and white bitter melon is paler and usually the mildest.

What does bitter melon taste like?

Bitter melon tastes distinctly bitter with a slight sweetness and a crisp-tender texture when cooked. Many cooks balance it with salty or savory ingredients.

How should I store bitter melon?

Store whole bitter melon in the refrigerator, loosely wrapped in a paper towel, and use it within several days. Frozen bitter melon should stay frozen until cooking.

Where can I buy bitter melon near me?

You can order bitter melon online from Weee!, including Bitter Melon 1-1.3 lb, Indian Bitter Melon 2 lb and Chinese White Bitter Melon. Weee! delivers Asian and Hispanic groceries to your door in many U.S. areas; enter your ZIP code at weee.com to see availability and delivery options.

Asian American store with free delivery available*

Where to buy bittermelon near me?

*Orders above $35, varies by region

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Top 5 products for Bittermelon

#1

Bitter Melon 1-1.3 lb

Bitter Melon 1-1.3 lb is a fresh bitter melon for stir-fries, soups, and stuffed dishes. Scrape out the pith and seeds, salt, and rinse to mellow the bitterness.

$2.49 - $5.79

Shop now

acdeguzman1962
I'm not a bitter person but I love bitter mellon I want ito eat like once or twice a week. And it's so fresh, tomorrow I will cook GINISANG AMPALAYA W/ PEANUT BUTTER, so YUMMY
weee.18516382
I bought it again and again because it was on sale; it's so fresh!
weee.13189379
Big and cheap.
RachelParameo
Not that fresh but still okay
weee.9347193
It's been a while since I stir-fried dried anchovies and fermented black bean bitter melon. It's so good with rice, and the bitter melon isn't so bitter anymore!
maylynrn02
The bitter melon has spoiled part
Cristy
Good quality, it’s fresh
Germinecordial
These bittermelon (aka Ampalaya) are always on my list of vegetables to purchase from Weee! I love shopping online from Weee bcoz these Ampalaya and other vegetables are delivered to my doorsteps seems freshly picked from the garden. I stir fried the ampalaya with eggs and chorizo de Cebu. So yummy, my hubby’s fave.. it’s so convenient to shop online at Weee: no hassle, no gas expense and I don’t have to deal with the Asian store staff who are rude!
rose bouquet
Supply available
Bo
Fresh vegetables, affordable prices, great for making soup.

#2

Indian Bitter Melon 2 lb

Indian Bitter Melon 2 lb is a 2 lb pack of dark green karela. Slice and cook with spices for karela sabzi, or fry until crisp-edged.

$3.39 - $6.29

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weee.17814503
No damage, well packed
Stewart
I'm going to stir-fry some chili peppers; it will be delicious.
森茂
The bitter melons are good, very fresh, there are five or six of them, we'll eat them in a cold salad.
Quynh Luong
Fresh and tender!
Frances 邱 (stanford1119)
Indian bitter gourd, also known as wild bitter gourd, comes in quite a few varieties.
drey.dj
Perfect for stir fry
Anil
good quality
Simone
good price and quality
reformadojoan1m
Bought this so many times thru weee, this time was delivered fresh!
Bo
I bought it at a discounted price, it was a great deal, and it's a really big bag.

#3

Chinese White Bitter Melon

Chinese White Bitter Melon is a pale, usually milder bitter melon. Use it in stir-fries and pork rib soups where a gentler bitterness is welcome.

$4.49 - $5.29

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Kimi chen
I frequently repurchase from them; I really like how convenient they are.
Angel
A simple stir-fried bitter melon with eggs is a delicious and easy dish to eat with rice!
Zih Huei
Beautiful white bitter melon! Use it to make a bitter melon, corn, and pork soup; it's sweet and delicious.
Mini Millie
It was smaller than I expected, and one of the pieces was slightly bruised. I haven't eaten bitter melon in a long time, so I made braised bitter melon with pork belly; it tasted just like an adult's.
teresachang77
Bitter but delicious, I finally got to try the white jade bitter melon, and I made bitter melon with salted eggs.
Frances 邱 (stanford1119)
It's great to have Weee ! They have white jade bitter melon that you can't find in supermarkets, and the packaging is excellent!
Life is a beach
Too beautiful to eat. It is fresh, crisp, not bitter and can be eaten raw. we sliced it thinly and enjoyed it's essence as is without cooking, seasoning or any intervention. re-ordered it for next two week's deliveries while they are in season.
Frances 邱 (stanford1119)
I finally got my favorite white jade bitter melon. It was very fresh and well-packaged to prevent it from getting damaged.
Paveena24_p
I think good
Joyce Chow
I received three white bitter melons today. They're very fresh and bigger than I expected. I'll stir-fry them with beef tomorrow. Thanks, Weee!

#4

Vadilal Karela (Bitter Melon) Frozen

Vadilal Karela (Bitter Melon) Frozen is frozen cut karela for curries and stir-fries. Cook from frozen in curries, stir-fries, or with onion and spices, following the package directions.

$2.24 - $2.99

Shop now

Priyadarsini
Nice and good
lilac.latte28
Great taste
ssraverkar
Delivered on time
ssraverkar
Packing with ice pack to keep product fresh delivery on time
kalyani
Good quality and well packed with no damage.
weee.16060182
Karela was shipped in a thermal pouch with a cold pack to maintain the temperature. This product was received in great condition.
gayathri
Great product!
arpanchoudhury29
Indian them
Jyoti
One of my favorite vegetables. Love how it came. Still fresh.
ushad79
Frozen pack, packed well in dry ice

#5

Stuffed Bitter Melon with Featherback Fish Paste, Frozen 17.63 oz

Stuffed Bitter Melon with Featherback Fish Paste, Frozen 17.63 oz is a ready-to-heat Southeast Asian dish of bitter melon stuffed with fish paste. Heat it per the package.

$11.99 - $13.49

Shop now

dungdo220871
The fish is firm and delicious, with a rich flavor. Cook until the bitter melon is tender. Convenient.
Adigo lee
It was delicious, and the soup was very flavorful.
Heidi 0305
Delicious and convenient
Tranggoidaulenanh
The bitter melon stuffed with snakehead fish is already seasoned. Just cook the broth with shrimp and add it in. The bitter melon is a bit tough, so cook it a little longer. The snakehead fish is seasoned well. Quite good for lazy cooks.
Alex Tran
The fish is firm and delicious.
Apple
Cook with 1 liter of water until the bitter melon is tender. The fish is firm and delicious. Very convenient.

Popular recipes

Ampalaya con Itlog (Bitter Melon with Egg)

Saute garlic, onion, and tomato, add sliced bitter melon, then scramble in eggs. A quick Filipino dish served with rice.

Stir-Fried Bitter Melon with Beef and Black Beans

Stir-fry sliced beef with fermented black beans, garlic, and salted bitter melon in a hot wok. The bitter melon balances the savory beef.

Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup (Canh Kho Qua)

Stuff bitter melon rings with seasoned ground pork and simmer in a light broth. A Vietnamese soup often eaten at Tet.

Karela Sabzi

Cook sliced karela (bitter melon) with onion, turmeric, cumin, and chili until tender and browned. Serve with roti or dal.

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Very good prices, delivery on times of any time I ordered . Good service. Good product. You can find anything's on Weee!

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Frequently asked questions

What is bitter melon?
Bitter melon is a green, bumpy gourd (Momordica charantia) used as a vegetable in Asian cuisines. It is also called bitter gourd, karela, ampalaya, kugua, and muop dang.
How do you cook bitter melon?
Slice it and stir-fry with egg, pork, beef, or black beans, simmer it in soups with pork ribs, stuff it with meat, or cook it with spices as karela sabzi.
What does bitter melon taste like?
Bitter melon tastes distinctly bitter with a slight sweetness and a crisp-tender texture when cooked. Many cooks balance it with salty or savory ingredients.
Where can I buy bitter melon near me?
You can order bitter melon online from Weee!, including Bitter Melon 1-1.3 lb, Indian Bitter Melon 2 lb and Chinese White Bitter Melon. Weee! delivers Asian and Hispanic groceries to your door in many U.S. areas; enter your ZIP code at weee.com to see availability and delivery options.

How do you reduce the bitterness of bitter melon?
Cut the bitter melon in half, scrape out the seeds and white pith, slice, then salt it for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse. Blanching briefly or pairing it with egg, pork, or fermented black beans also softens the bitter edge.
What is the difference between Chinese, Indian, and white bitter melon?
Chinese bitter melon is long, pale green, and bumpy, and generally milder. Indian bitter melon is dark green, narrower, with sharper ridges and more bitterness, and white bitter melon is paler and usually the mildest.
How should I store bitter melon?
Store whole bitter melon in the refrigerator, loosely wrapped in a paper towel, and use it within several days. Frozen bitter melon should stay frozen until cooking.

acdeguzman1962
I'm not a bitter person but I love bitter mellon I want ito eat like once or twice a week. And it's so fresh, tomorrow I will cook GINISANG AMPALAYA W/ PEANUT BUTTER, so YUMMY
weee.18516382
I bought it again and again because it was on sale; it's so fresh!
weee.13189379
Big and cheap.
RachelParameo
Not that fresh but still okay
weee.9347193
It's been a while since I stir-fried dried anchovies and fermented black bean bitter melon. It's so good with rice, and the bitter melon isn't so bitter anymore!
maylynrn02
The bitter melon has spoiled part
Cristy
Good quality, it’s fresh
Germinecordial
These bittermelon (aka Ampalaya) are always on my list of vegetables to purchase from Weee! I love shopping online from Weee bcoz these Ampalaya and other vegetables are delivered to my doorsteps seems freshly picked from the garden. I stir fried the ampalaya with eggs and chorizo de Cebu. So yummy, my hubby’s fave.. it’s so convenient to shop online at Weee: no hassle, no gas expense and I don’t have to deal with the Asian store staff who are rude!
rose bouquet
Supply available
Bo
Fresh vegetables, affordable prices, great for making soup.
weee.17814503
No damage, well packed
Stewart
I'm going to stir-fry some chili peppers; it will be delicious.
森茂
The bitter melons are good, very fresh, there are five or six of them, we'll eat them in a cold salad.
Quynh Luong
Fresh and tender!
Frances 邱 (stanford1119)
Indian bitter gourd, also known as wild bitter gourd, comes in quite a few varieties.
drey.dj
Perfect for stir fry
Anil
good quality
Simone
good price and quality
reformadojoan1m
Bought this so many times thru weee, this time was delivered fresh!
Bo
I bought it at a discounted price, it was a great deal, and it's a really big bag.
Kimi chen
I frequently repurchase from them; I really like how convenient they are.
Angel
A simple stir-fried bitter melon with eggs is a delicious and easy dish to eat with rice!
Zih Huei
Beautiful white bitter melon! Use it to make a bitter melon, corn, and pork soup; it's sweet and delicious.
Mini Millie
It was smaller than I expected, and one of the pieces was slightly bruised. I haven't eaten bitter melon in a long time, so I made braised bitter melon with pork belly; it tasted just like an adult's.
teresachang77
Bitter but delicious, I finally got to try the white jade bitter melon, and I made bitter melon with salted eggs.
Frances 邱 (stanford1119)
It's great to have Weee ! They have white jade bitter melon that you can't find in supermarkets, and the packaging is excellent!
Life is a beach
Too beautiful to eat. It is fresh, crisp, not bitter and can be eaten raw. we sliced it thinly and enjoyed it's essence as is without cooking, seasoning or any intervention. re-ordered it for next two week's deliveries while they are in season.
Frances 邱 (stanford1119)
I finally got my favorite white jade bitter melon. It was very fresh and well-packaged to prevent it from getting damaged.
Paveena24_p
I think good
Joyce Chow
I received three white bitter melons today. They're very fresh and bigger than I expected. I'll stir-fry them with beef tomorrow. Thanks, Weee!
Priyadarsini
Nice and good
lilac.latte28
Great taste
ssraverkar
Delivered on time
ssraverkar
Packing with ice pack to keep product fresh delivery on time
kalyani
Good quality and well packed with no damage.
weee.16060182
Karela was shipped in a thermal pouch with a cold pack to maintain the temperature. This product was received in great condition.
gayathri
Great product!
arpanchoudhury29
Indian them
Jyoti
One of my favorite vegetables. Love how it came. Still fresh.
ushad79
Frozen pack, packed well in dry ice
dungdo220871
The fish is firm and delicious, with a rich flavor. Cook until the bitter melon is tender. Convenient.
Adigo lee
It was delicious, and the soup was very flavorful.
Heidi 0305
Delicious and convenient
Tranggoidaulenanh
The bitter melon stuffed with snakehead fish is already seasoned. Just cook the broth with shrimp and add it in. The bitter melon is a bit tough, so cook it a little longer. The snakehead fish is seasoned well. Quite good for lazy cooks.
Alex Tran
The fish is firm and delicious.
Apple
Cook with 1 liter of water until the bitter melon is tender. The fish is firm and delicious. Very convenient.
Lerie
Fresh and great price! Weee!
Gala
I like these bittermelon than the bittermelon from India (carela), which is more bitter, darker, shorter, and more bumpy. These bittermelon is less bitter, lighter in color, longer and less bumpy than the Indian bitter melon.
Thanh
Bitter melon soup with snakehead fish for Tet
kayhogue21
Really fresh and affordable price.