Fresh Bottle Gourd (Upo)

Product Description

Bottle gourd, botanically a part of Lagenaria siceraria is a vine and a member of the Cucurbitaceae family. When young it is utilized as a vegetable in preparations similar to that for squash and once mature it can be dried and hollowed out to make utensils, musical instruments and vessels. The Bottle gourd has a rich history and was one of the first cultivated plants in the world. It is known today by many different names throughout the world, most notably as a Calabash, Opo, Cucuzza, and Long melon. Bottle gourd can vary in size shape and length depending on how it is grown and when it is harvested. It can be short and round, uniformly cylindrical, curved, bulbous, or extremely long and thin. Its skin is most often smooth though some varieties are covered in fine hairs. Its coloring can vary from a light green or chartreuse to dark green. The interior flesh is creamy white with petite seeds that when young are tender and edible but when more mature become hard and should be removed before consumption. Young bottle gourd squash offers a mild flavor reminiscent of summer squash and cucumber with a firm texture.

Nutritional Content

Bottle gourd (white flowered Calabash) (Lagenaria siceraria), fresh, raw, Nutritive value per 100 g (Source: USDA National Nutrient database) Principle Nutrient Value Percent of RDA • Energy 14 Kcal <1% • Carbohydrates 3.39 g 2.5% • Protein 0.62 g 1% • Total Fat 0.02 g 0.5% • Cholesterol 0 mg 0% • Dietary Fiber 0.5 g 1% • Vitamins • Folates 6 µg 1.5% • Niacin 0.320 mg 2% • Pantothenic acid 0.152 mg 3% • Pyridoxine 0.040 mg 3% • Riboflavin 0.022 mg 2% • Thiamin 0.029 mg 2.5% • Vitamin A 16 IU 0.5% • Vitamin C 10.1 mg 17% • Electrolytes • Sodium 2 mg <1% • Potassium 150 mg 3% • Minerals • Calcium 26 mg 2.6% • Copper 0.034 mg 4% • Iron 0.20 mg 2.5% • Magnesium 11 mg 3% • Manganese 0.089 mg 4% • Phosphorus 13 mg 2% • Selenium 0.2 mg <1% • Zinc 0.70 mg 6.5%