Loofah, edible and functional

Westerners know the loofah as a bathroom accessory, a natural sponge for scrubbing and cleaning. To the Chinese, however, it offers both food and functionality.

The loofah grows fast and in spring it is sowed as soon as the first frosts are over. Before long, its graceful tendrils wind upward, reaching to the warming sun,

By early summer, the flowers are blooming and the tiny gourds would form. It only takes about one or two weeks for the fruit to mature, so farmers need to know the exact time to harvest. Too early, and the loofah will not be sweet enough. Too late, it becomes tough and fibrous and can only be left on the vine to dry into sponges.