Also known as bitter melon, bitter gourd is a green-skinned fruit with warts on its surface and a bitter taste. The spongy flesh of the fruit varies in color, ranging from white to light green. People in tropical regions, such as Latin America, India, East Africa and Asia, use bitter gourd in medicine and food. You can also turn bitter gourd into tea by first drying it with low heat in the oven.

Wash the bitter gourd thoroughly. You will use both the flesh and the edible skin.

Cut the bitter gourd in half lengthwise to expose the seeds.

Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds.

Slice the two halves of the bitter gourd into thin pieces.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lay the slices of bitter gourd in a single layer on an oven-safe tray.

Place the tray of bitter gourd slices in the oven and leave it inside for 20 to 30 minutes. The bitter gourd will shrivel and become darker in color. Let the dried bitter gourd cool and store it in an airtight container.