| Attribute | Specification |
| Common Name | Bitter Gourd / Bitter Melon / Karela |
| Botanical Name | Momordica charantia |
| Color | Light to dark green (some varieties may be pale or white) |
| Shape | Elongated, Oblong with ridged and warty surface |
| Length | 10 to 25 cm |
| Diameter | 3 to 6 cm |
| Weight | 80 – 200 grams per fruit |
| Surface Texture | Rough, Bumpy, and Corrugated |
| Interior | White to pale green spongy pulp with flat white seeds |
| Taste | Distinctly bitter |
| Odor | Mildly pungent or earthy |
| Edible Parts | Whole fruit (excluding hard seeds in mature fruits) |
| Moisture Content | High (makes it perishable) |
| Storage Temperature | 10–12°C (Refrigerated storage recommended) |
| Shelf Life | 4 to 7 days under refrigeration |
| Maturity | Tender when young; turns yellow-orange and more bitter when ripe |
| Caliber | Small (10–15 cm), Medium (16–20 cm), Large (21–25 cm) |
| Varieties | Indian (smaller, darker, more bitter), Chinese (larger, smoother) |
| Common Uses | Stir-fries, Juices, Pickles, Curries, Medicinal Preparations |
