Gấc is a perennial melon. Its botanical name Momordica cochinchinensis probably implies that it's from Vietnam for the Latin name cochinchinensis is derived from Cochinchina, an old name for Vietnam; and indeed, the melon was first discovered there and is now commonly called by its Vietnamese name gấc even though it is grown elsewhere; even in Northeastern Australia. In fact, it was in Patthalung, SouthernThailand that I first came across the fruit; at Sampaothai, some 17 km from the town centre. Sampaothai occupies over 10 acres of land and just before you walk on wooden path built on stilts that ran over paddy fields, you'll have to walk through an organic farm. Some would've been attracted by little wooden stalls selling souvenirs or foodstuffs; or man-made structures that served as photo booths; others perhaps would catch sight of round and thorny, green, yellow, orange even red Gấc fruits about 13 centimetres in length and 10 centimetres in diameter. The fruit, upon ripening, will gradually change colours, from green to yellow, orange and finally red; orange and red as a result of being rich in content of beta-carotene and lycopene.
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