Lo Han Guo (Monk Fruit) (Round, brownish-brown, glossy with soft hairs, light and brittle, thin and easily broken skin, spongy pulp, audible when shaken)

【Naming】

Lo Han Guo (Monk Fruit)

 【Source】

Lingnan Cai Yao Lu (Record of Herbal Medicine Collection in Lingnan)

 【Frequency of Use】

C

 【Botanical Origin】

The fruit of Lo Han Guo (Monk Fruit) Momordica grosvenori Swingle., of the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family.

 【Characteristics】

The dried fruit is round to oval, 4-8 cm in diameter, and yellowish-brown to dark brown on the outside. It is relatively glossy, with slight residual hairs, and a few have darker longitudinal stripes. The top is enlarged with a circular stigma base mark in the center, and the base is slightly narrower with a fruit stalk mark. The texture is brittle and easily broken, with a yellowish-white, loose, sponge-like inner surface after breaking. Removing the mesocarp reveals 10 distinct longitudinal ridges. The seeds are flat, oblong or nearly round, brown, with thicker edges and a slightly concave center, containing two cotyledons, and are sweet in taste.

 【Identification】

The best quality are those that are round, large, firm, silent when shaken, and yellowish-brown in color.

 【Category】

Fruits