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Variety of edible fruit From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Chi qua | |
---|---|
Flower of B. hispida v. chieh-qua | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Cucurbitales |
Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
Genus: | Benincasa |
Species: | |
Variety: | B. h. var. chieh-qua |
Trinomial name | |
Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua F.C.How, 1954 |
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]
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]
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]
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