The Moqua fruit has the initial appearance of a faintly spotted cucumber or zucchini. Its skin is true-green layered with a fine fuzzy coating when the fruit is still young. The fruit should be harvested immature when the flesh is still medium-crisp and creamy white. Moqua's flesh has a very delicate flavor with a sweet finish and aroma. Its delicate flavor allows it to take on the flavors of the ingredients with which it is cooked. Once mature, the fruit loses its fuzzy sheath; it is replaced with a waxy coating and the flesh is no longer succulent or sweet. Its mature fruit can be stored up to 12 months, much like a winter melon.
Moqua has many other vernacular names including fuzzy melon, winter melon and winter gourd. It is a member of the cucurbit family (cucumber), hence its fruits sprout from sprawling vines. The plant is cultivated for its fruit, however, its leaves, shoots and tendrils can be used as cooking or salad greens.
Moqua can be used like a young summer squash or zucchini. It can be eaten raw, sautéed, stewed, roasted and fried. Its mellow flavor makes it a great companion vegetable to bolder flavored ingredients and rich proteins. The skin should be scrubbed before using, to remove its fuzzy coating. More creative fruit-driven applications include making a sweet fruit drink with Moqua, enhancing it with caramelized sugar. Moqua can also be dried and preserved as a jam.
Moqua is native to Southeast Asia and prefers very warm climates and growing temperatures. It grows throughout both South and East Asia, including China, India and Taiwan.
Recipes that include Moqua. One
Moqua
08/09/2024
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Dekalb Farmers Market
3000 E Ponce de Leon Ave Decatur GA 30030
+1 (404) 377-6400
Moqua fruit has a unique transformation as it matures. When young, its green skin is covered with a fuzzy coating, and the flesh is creamy white, medium-crisp, with a delicate sweetness. As it matures, the fuzz is replaced by a waxy coating, and its flesh becomes less succulent, losing its sweetness. Interestingly, the mature fruit can be stored for up to 12 months, similar to how winter melons can be preserved.
Moqua
11/11/2023
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GG Farm
Fresno, CA
559-770-1127
Moqua: This unique fruit can be used in a variety of culinary ways, similar to young summer squash or zucchini. It’s versatile enough to be eaten raw, sautéed, stewed, roasted, or fried. Its mellow flavor complements bold ingredients and rich proteins. Scrub its fuzzy skin before use. Moqua also works well in sweet applications, like fruit drinks enhanced with caramelized sugar or preserved as jam.
Moqua
03/20/2023
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Zion Market
7655 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 268-3300
Moqua, also known as fuzzy melon or winter gourd, belongs to the cucurbit family, just like cucumbers. Its fruits grow on sprawling vines, and while it’s primarily grown for its fruit, you can also enjoy its leaves, shoots, and tendrils as cooking or salad greens. This versatility makes it a valuable and multi-purpose plant for culinary enthusiasts.
Moqua
02/21/2020
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99 Ranch Market - Skyline Plaza
250 Skyline Plaza Daly City CA 94015
(650) 992-8899
Moqua thrives in the tropical climates of Southeast Asia, adapting to very warm conditions perfect for its growth. It is widely cultivated across various regions of South and East Asia, including countries such as India, China, and Taiwan. The plant has become especially prominent in areas with consistent heat, which supports its development and harvest.
Moqua
01/20/2020
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LF Market Oriental & Seafood
5350 W Bell Road #115 Glendale AZ 85308
(602) 993-5878
Moqua fruit: When harvested young, the Moqua fruit has a creamy white flesh that's medium-crisp, delicately flavored, and sweetly aromatic. Its fine fuzzy coating gives way to a waxy surface once mature, with flesh becoming less sweet and succulent. Mature Moqua, resembling winter melon, can be stored for up to 12 months, giving it remarkable shelf-life versatility for extended use.
Moqua
01/06/2020
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Tan Phat Oriental Market
1702 W Camelback Road #5 Phoenix AZ 85015
(602) 242-6119
Moqua: Moqua is a versatile fruit that can be used similarly to summer squash or zucchini, whether eaten raw or cooked in various ways like sautéing, roasting, or frying. For a sweeter twist, it can be transformed into a fruit drink with caramelized sugar or preserved as jam after drying. Prior to use, its skin should be scrubbed to remove the fuzzy coating. Its mellow flavor pairs well with bold ingredients and rich proteins.
Moqua
01/06/2020
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Lee Lee International Market
7575 W Cactus Road Peoria AZ 85381
(623) 773-3345
Moqua, also known as fuzzy melon, winter melon, or winter gourd, belongs to the cucurbit family, which includes cucumbers. The plant grows on sprawling vines and is primarily cultivated for its fruit. However, its leaves, shoots, and tendrils are also edible and can be used as ingredients in salads or cooked dishes.
Moqua
08/05/2019
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Marina Food Market
2992 S Norfolk Street San Mateo CA 94403
(650) 345-6911
Moqua is native to Southeast Asia and thrives in warm climates, making it well-suited for tropical and subtropical regions. It grows abundantly in countries like China, India, and Taiwan, as well as across South and East Asia. This plant's adaptability to consistently high temperatures has helped it flourish in diverse environments across these areas.
Moqua
08/02/2019
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San Pablo Supermarket
2368 El Portal Drive San Pablo CA 94806
(510) 215-0888
Moqua Fruit: Moqua fruit starts as a faintly spotted cucumber or zucchini with a green, fuzzy coating when young. It has a delicate, mildly sweet flavor and creamy white, medium-crisp flesh that absorbs surrounding flavors well during cooking. When mature, the skin becomes waxy, the flesh loses its sweetness and succulence, but the fruit gains impressive storage longevity, lasting up to 12 months like a winter melon.
Moqua
07/23/2019
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Mekong Seafood Market, Inc.
206 Sebastopol Road Santa Rosa CA 95407
(707) 544-6201
Moqua: This versatile vegetable can be eaten raw or cooked in various ways, such as sautéing, stewing, roasting, or frying. Its mellow flavor pairs well with bold ingredients and rich proteins. Before use, scrub its skin to remove the fuzzy coating. Moqua can also be creatively turned into a sweet fruit drink with caramelized sugar or preserved as a jam after drying.
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