Chi qua

This article is about the fruit. For the moth, see Chiqua.

Chi qua is the fruit of Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua, a variety of the wax gourd. The fruit is a staple of the Chinese diet.

Chi qua
Flower of B. hispida v. chieh-qua
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Cucurbitales
Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Genus:	Benincasa
Species:	B. hispida
Variety:	B. h. var. chieh-qua
Trinomial name
Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua F.C.How, 1954

Etymology

The fruit is commonly referred to in Chinese as chi qua (simplified Chinese: 节瓜; traditional Chinese: 節瓜; pinyin: jiéguā; Jyutping: zit3 gwaa1), but can also be referred to as moa qua or moa gua (Chinese: 毛瓜; pinyin: máoguā; Jyutping: mou4 gwaa1; lit. 'hairy gourd').^[1]

In English, the fruit is known by a variety of names including hairy melon, hairy gourd, hairy cucumber, fuzzy gourd, fuzzy squash, Chinese preserving melon, wax gourd, or small winter melon.^[1][2]

Cultivation

The fruit is produced on vines in warm temperatures, at 25°C to 35°C, and is sensitive to frost. ^[1][2] In China, it is commonly cultivated in Guangdong and Guangxi.^[3]

Uses

Chi quas, covered by a coating of fine hairs, must be prepared carefully to avoid skin irritations. While young chi quas can be eaten raw, they are usually cooked.^[1] They are prepared and eaten in a similar fashion to summer squash or zucchini.^[2] In China, they are usually eaten in the summer.^[3] The gourd is also used in Andean, Caribbean, East African, Indian, Mexican, South American and Southeast Asian cuisine.^[2]