Healthy Fruit: Ba Yue Gua (Akebia)

Healthy Fruit: Ba Yue Gua (Akebia)

Often called the “Chocolate Vine” or “Purple Apple” in the West, the Ba Yue Gua (八月瓜) — scientifically known as Akebia trifoliata or Akebia quinata — is a fascinating wild fruit native to East Asia, particularly China, Japan, and Korea.

The name “Ba Yue Gua” literally translates to “August Melon,” referring to the time it typically ripens and “bursts” open.

The fruit has a sausage-shaped, purplish-pink or violet skin. When it is fully ripe, the skin naturally splits open along a longitudinal seam, revealing the white pulp inside. The inside consists of a soft, translucent white pulp that looks somewhat like a mangosteen or a long, white caterpillar. It is packed with many small, black seeds.

The flavor is subtle and delicate, often described as a mix of pear, coconut, and melon with a hint of honey sweetnes. The pulp is creamy and gelatinous. However, the seeds are bitter if bitten into, so most people swallow them whole or spit them out.

Most commonly eaten fresh out of the skin once it pops open. While the pulp is sweet, the thick rind is quite bitter. In some regions, the rind is stuffed with meat and fried or used in stir-fries to balance savory flavors. The leaves and stems are often dried to make traditional herbal teas.

In Chinese medicine, the stems (Mu Tong) are used for their diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties.

It grows on a vigorous woody vine that can climb up to 10 meters. It’s often used in landscaping for its beautiful fragrant purple flowers.It is a hardy plant that can survive cold winters, which is why it’s found in mountainous regions.

Ba Yue Gua Nutrition Facts