We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Chinese Cucumber?

By Anna Harrison
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 21,296
Share

Chinese cucumber is a vegetable that is in the gourd genus Trichosanthes. Also known as the Mongolian snake gourd, it grows on a vine along the ground or may climb up trellises or chicken wire. The plants are native to open forest and grassy areas of China. These types of cucumbers are edible and are sometimes pickled or eaten raw in salads. All parts of this ornamental plant are used for medicinal purposes.

This versatile tender perennial can be grown in light, loamy soil, as well as in heavy clay. The soil must be moist and have good drainage. When growing Chinese cucumber, it is important to provide plenty of sunlight, as it will not grow in shady areas. The plant produces shaggy white flowers from mid-summer until fall, which then go to seed and produce fruit. Mature fruits are about 4 inches (10.2 cm) long.

Though the Chinese cucumber plant tends to trail along the ground, it may also be trained to climb. This makes it great for small spaces, and may even be grown as a container plant if placed in a large pot with a small trellis. If grown in the garden, it should be given plenty of space to spread out. It is similar in growing habit to the more common English cucumbers or pole beans.

The Chinese cucumber fruits are usually used when freshly picked. The roots however, are dug in the fall and then cut into pieces and dried before being used. They are reconstituted by soaking them in water for several days. Roots are mashed into pulp and then steamed and made into cakes and dumplings.

Though the fruits may be eaten, the uses of Chinese cucumber are mainly medicinal. It has been popular in Chinese herbal preparations for centuries to treat many different conditions and diseases. The fruit, including the seeds, is said to be anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, and is taken as a laxative and expectorant as well. The fruit rind has been used to treat jaundice, sore throat, and even cancer.

The medicinal Chinese cucumber root itself has a variety of uses. It is said to be a powerful abortifacient, and, in the past, a sponge was soaked in the cucumber juice and then placed in the vagina to induce abortion, usually in the second trimester of a pregnancy. The root has also been given as a treatment for diabetes and to ease labor. In addition, Chinese cucumber roots contain trichosanthin, a protein that is being tested as of 2011 as a possible treatment for AIDS.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-is-chinese-cucumber.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.