Pavakkai, karela in Hindi, is bitter gourd, a climbing vine with warty, intensely bitter fruits that are a favourite vegetable across India. Pavakkai pitlai, stuffed karela and karela chips are classic dishes. Daily karela juice is a popular remedy for diabetes; trials show only modest effects, and too much can cause low blood sugar and stomach upset. Ripe fruits split open to show bright red seed coats.
- Botanical name
- Momordica charantia L.
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Tamil
- Pavakkai
- Hindi
- Karela
- Sanskrit
- Kāravellaka
- Parts used
- Fruit, Sometimes leaf and seed
- Habit
- Annual climbing vine of the gourd family with bitter, warty fruit
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Pavakkai
It is a climbing annual vine with slender stems and unbranched tendrils.
The leaves are deeply cut into five to seven lobes.
Yellow, five-petalled flowers grow singly in the leaf axils.
The fruits are oblong, green and covered in ridges and warts, from small round types to long ones.
Ripe fruits turn orange and split to show seeds wrapped in red, sweet pulp.
Traditional use of Pavakkai
Kitchen
Pavakkai is cooked into pitlai, poriyal and chips in Tamil Nadu, and karela is stuffed and fried in North India.
Indian food practice
Kitchen
In Okinawa, bitter gourd is stir-fried with tofu and egg as goya champuru.
Japanese food practice
Folk use
Karela juice is drunk in the morning in folk practice for diabetes.
Indian folk practice
Modern notes on Pavakkai
Its bitterness comes from cucurbitacins and momordicins.
Trials of bitter gourd for diabetes show only modest lowering of blood sugar.
Seeds contain vicine, which can trigger red-cell breakdown in people with G6PD deficiency.
Pavakkai safety
Do not drink large amounts of karela juice, especially with diabetes medicines, which can cause low blood sugar. Avoid it in pregnancy and if you have G6PD deficiency. Discard any gourd that tastes unusually bitter.
Ecology and sourcing
It probably originated in South or South-east Asia.
Bees pollinate its flowers.
It grows quickly in hot, humid weather.
Related plants
Also in Cucurbitaceae
Questions about Pavakkai
Can karela juice replace diabetes treatment?
No. It may lower blood sugar a little, but it does not replace prescribed treatment.
Why is Pavakkai bitter?
It contains cucurbitacins and momordicins.
How can I reduce bitterness?
Salt and squeeze the slices before cooking.
Are ripe red seeds edible?
The red pulp is sweet, but the seeds are best avoided.
Is Pavakkai safe in pregnancy?
Large amounts should be avoided.
Sources
- Momordica charantia L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q428750 (Momordica charantia)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.