The bitter gourds sold in the market are always green in colour. Haven't seen a yellow one but the little bitter gourds in the garden do turn yellow when they are ripe and like the balsam fruits, may even burst open to expose their red seeds. And then I wonder if the little bitter gourds in the garden are actually balsam apples or balsam pears. All three look incredibly alike; are edible when young and unripe; and taste bitter. The ripe yellow balsam apples reportedly cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and can be poisonous.
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