derives from member of melon fruit food product balsam apple leaf food product Balsam Apple is a Bitter Melon relative with tiny pointed fruit that are edible when young and green, but that cause vomiting when ripe and orange. The bright red seed coat is sweet and textured like tapioca. In Cameroon, Sudan, and southern Africa the young fruit and leaves are cooked as a vegetable. SIREN DB annotation: * whole, natural shape FOODON:03430150 * not heat-treated FOODON:03440003 * leaf FOODON:03420200 spice or herb (us cfr) balsam apple plant requires discussion