The Snake Tomatoes
The Snake Gourd.
The Snake Gourd,scientifically identified as Trichosanthes cucumerina, is a plant that comes with many local names. In Hindi, it is called Padwal; the Bengali calls it Chichinga, and it is also known as Pudalanka or Pathola. But one of its most descriptive names is snake tomatoes, resulting in "tomato elejo" from the Yoruba, "agwọ afụfa ọhịa" in Igbo and Tomatos Udukikot in Ibibio.
The Snake Gourd is a tropical vine mostly grown for its edible leaves and fruits that looks like a green snake hanging on the vine. When the gourd is ripe, you simply remove the seeds, blend it and it can be used as a substitute for tomatoes when making stews, soups and curries. When still young green, and tender, it is used as a vegetable. The tender snake tomatoes may have a slightly bitter taste and an unpleasant odour which disappears once cooked.
Description
The Snake tomato is a monoecious plant because it produces a separate male and female flower on the same plant. It creeps and climbs using its tendrils, and to assist it, trellises are erected in the farm for the snake tomatoes to creep on, preventing it from staying on the floor.
The fruit transits from green to white, then yellow or red when fully ripe. To have this growing in your garden, you simply have to collect the seeds from a matured and ripe gourd fruit. Hidden among the leaves here is a ripe snake fruit.
Snake tomatoes are loaded with vitamins and minerals. And is said to be helpful when managing weight. It supports health by promoting digestion. Because it has less sugar, it is ideal when managing diabetes. It is also said to have good results on your skin health because it contains vitamins A, B and C.
Have you used the snake tomatoes to cook a meal? How is it called where you live? I am inviting the following Steemian to say what they know about the snake gourd fruit; how popular is it where you live? @alexanderpeace, @ninapenda, @okere-blessing and @rubee2as1
Media Credit |
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| Composer | @manuelhooks |
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| Captured with | GalaxyA15 |
| Captured Date | Sun. 13 April |
| Posting Date | Mon. 14 April |
| (@) 2025 |
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#fintech
This is very interesting to know about the tomato 🍅 that I like so much. I planted it this year in my garden. Since many people don't cultivate it where I live, so I had to travel to get the seeds elsewhere for planting. We also call it Snake tomato.