Taste testing bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) grown in Aquaponics

Bitter gourd which is imported into the UK from abroad has been shown to be suitable to be grown in aquaponics under greenhouse conditions. Whilst research has indicated the plant grows well under greenhouse aquaponics conditions, as yet there has been no research on taste qualities. The aim of the study was thus to ascertain whether the taste of aquaponically grown bitter gourd is better or at least comparable with market-bought bitter gourd, grown abroad. Six adult participants participated in a blind taste test of 3 recipes of both aquaponically-grown bitter gourd and market-bought bitter gourd. The tests have shown that aquaponically grown bitter gourd is better and preferred in taste to the imported bitter gourd not grown aquaponically.