WEEKEND FUN UPDATE: Do you recognize this fruit?
Dominica News Online - Monday, September 10th, 2012 at 9:45 AM
Once again thanks to all who participated in our last Weekend Fun exercise.
It seems all our readers have a very good knowledge of local plants and most got it right. Although most people know the plant that bears this fruit as ‘Pomme Coulie’ it is also known by a variety of names ranging from Lizard Dinner to Koukoulie to Cerasse.
It has been used traditionally for many purposes including ‘cooling down’ the body and skin rashes.
It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and its scientific name is Momordica charantia L.
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137 Comments
yes i knowit andin jamacia its call sourcy
The leaves are also used to smoke meat. Yall wouldn’t kno bout that
this bush is kokulie it very good for the body i have alot by my home which i use every day it very good to drink any one who need this contact me i sell it
In Antigua, the vine is called “Bitter Bush”; it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure.
In Antigua its called “fowl-batty”. lol. As kids we used to eat it for fun. Memories
Good day Dominica, what up. This wild fruit in this picture, we call it in st.Maarten Maiden apple,or wild corella, it is use as a Tea, refreshment in your drinking water or for high blood pressure, it is very bitter to much intake of that bush tin your blood, once a mouth is good.
pomme poo leeee
Pomme collie people use the vine along with other herbs in making a cleansing portion for the body. We used tojust break the fruit and suck on the tiny seeds inside.
Kukuli
POMME COULIE. IT’S USED AS WHAT WE CALL COOLING
I love this article on this fruit. There is no doubt that we have learned something about its benefit.
All fruits are not without reason. They contain health benefits. Our problem is or rather some of us, we ate them, never fathomed and appreciated them as being healthy. Today, through healthy education, we know better.
In recent years, the emphasis is on eating fruits, vegetables and also greens with drinking ample water, all important to our health and well-being. We must take note of this vital information which is capable of preventing illnesses and which will assist us to live a relatively healthy and long life.
Today with Internet, we have additional access to this important information. I read that some illnesses could be due to inflammation of the body and that it is necessary to cleanse the body by taking an occasional detox. I recommend a healthy one as also fruit. How often we may not be aware of that.
I also heard on a TV program which promotes health that prior to undergoing an operation, a body cleanser should be taken to empty the body of toxins.
Thanks DNO for this article. It is greatly appreciated. I am certain your readers learned a lot, health-wise. Every one of your readers contributed their educated and health views.
Last evening during a conversation I spoke to a friend about this fruit and will pass it on to others. It is worth-while passing on.
You may be surprised to know that some people in DA (as I did when I resided there) may not know about this fruit. It depends in what part of the island they reside. God bless!
I hate to be a spoiler, but can you try to write shorter posts?
People are judged by what they say and what comes out of their fingers on the keyboard which is generated from their heart, mind and thoughts. I do find you out of place. You are not intelligent. You do not know someone and you make such statements. Is this not the height of ignorance?
You are devoid of God’s blessing and graces. You need prayers. You do not have what it takes to be a kind, gentle and gracious person. You lack good manners. If you do not have them, you cannot practice them.
Here is a lesson for you: Learn to practice these godly, Christian traits as also love, appreciation, consideration, patience and respect, according people their due rights and dignity. When you learn and practice them, you will become a happy and patient person. I wonder if you can. “You can bring a horse to the water but you cannot make it drink.”
My view of you, whoever you are, you are not a nice person. You are someone, a dictator who will never be satisfied and will constantly be mean towards others and pick on them. You have also projected that you are one miserable, pathetic person. How sad for you! Due to your attitude, you give Dominica and Dominicans are bad name. Ensure that you do not die in this ungodly manner.
@ sigh
Keep sighing. It is a mark of one who is never pleased and satisfied.
Your true colours are showing. Know this, since you are not aware of it due to your mentality. Some people have nothing nice to say. Some people have nothing to say and some have much to say. It all depends on their intellect and mentality and how-learned they are or not which some possess and others do not. I wished that I could give you some of mine but it never will be. It is not for sale or to be given away. It cannot be acquired. We either have it or we do not have it. This accounts for the love of patient reading or not. Reading is an education in itself. It is obvious that you have not wish to learn anything. Instead you criticize. This does not tell me much about you. As the saying, ‘you asked for it.’ 
Blah Blahing about any and everything isn’t a sign of intelligence and God’s grace….if it was, then there would be a plethora of intelligent people in this world…..
dats a watermelon
I gave you thumbs up because you made me laugh at your comment. I believe you were either joking or that you do not know what a watermelon looks like.
zor sort yea, dats a pineapple
Zandolie food
and abollor….
hahahaah, yes it is zandoli food and it is used to clean your blood. it came from a plant name kokoli. I used for my lotar. (skin discoloration…hmmmm and it worked
Bitter melon. very good for diabetis .
The fruit is called lizard fruit by many,and the vine maiden apple. It is used for. Cleansing the body, giving babies their bat, and it grows anywhere in the tropics.
Growing up in Barbados we called the fruit Lizard Food. We ate them and the lizards also did. We called the vine Cerasee and made tea with it for colds.
It’s called pinned-coolie
The leaves are used as a laxative and the red seeds of the fruit can be used as food coloring. eg. Gravy.
I use to eat day wen I was young it nice its day pomme coo
lie
Bitter Gourd… heard its used 4 people wit high blood pressure
when i was younger i think or know i saw my father making wine with this fruit.So is wine being made out of this or an alcoholic drink?
Who can forget? This is pomme collie. It grew everywhere on people’s fences. The vine was used to bathe babies. I used to eat the fruit, it has a distinct smell. However I remember it being more yellow than orange. The Jamaicans tell me that the vine is called “bitter bush” and used for High Blood Pressure.
The local name is koukuli. I have eaten the seeds but do not know what illnesses it is really used for.
That a pommme coolie. It is used a a cleansing
That’s a Pomme Coolie for sure! I used the vine as a child to bathe :-)
That’s a Pomme Coolie for sure! We used the vine as children to bathe and drank it as a cooling as well. The fruit is sweet and beautiful :-)
yes! yes! that is a pumkin.
nooo
First of all DNO, the colour of this fruit has been altered. Secondly, koukouli appears to be the most commonly used local name in DA. But other local names are konkom-kouli, and pomkouli. Thirdly, I found out that in St Vincent the folks cook the GREEN koukouli (called karayli) as a vegetable,and eat that as a side dish with cod fish or chicken, etc…. Hmmm… One man’s meat…
The color of the fruit… Really, are u serious!! This thing used to grow in my yard! There is nothing wrong with the color!! Stupes allu DA people always have to find something wrong eh!! Get over ur self boss!!
@ Anonymous
I do not know why they gave you thumbs down. Your comment is interesting and makes good sense. Islanders have different likes and dislikes and tastes. I am opened to different views and customs. We learn much from them.
Residing in Toronto, I have a few friends who are originally from St. Vincent. I will discuss it with them. Makes for a good conversational and educational piece.
the correct name is BITTER GOURD
Dat a pomme collie used as cooling and to bath little children when they have heat rash.
This fruit is called Pomecoolie. I’ve used it as a cooling, laxative, and body wash.
If the leaves are boiled or brewed for too long it will be bitter. The seeds have a sweet taste. This vine (Pomecoolie) grows wild in most countries. It grows in my yard in Florida.
That fruit is 100% disgusting! Yuck! I don’t the name but I remember going country and my grandmother try to pull one over on me with this nasty stuff!
this 1 is called Pomme-coo-lee or Coo-coo-lee, the seeds inside r red…i eat sooo much of tht growing up!! LOL
It’s koo koo lee. I know some people eat the fruit. I tried once, but hated it. The leaves are good for “cooling” though.
In Dominica it is called Pom Coulie or Coucoulie. The english name for it is Cerasse . The plant is a vine and bears yellow flowers and fruit is orange when ripe and has red coated seeds. The fruit is edible and rich in vitamins A & C. Certain reptiles and birds love that fruit. The bush is drunk as a cooling or anti inflammation and is hitter to the taste. It is also used in baths also for cooling. the dried prepared leaves are sold as tea bags just like red rose and other teas.
It is said to be good for cancer (tumour supressive), diabetes.
It is also used as a cheap alternative treatment for HIV/AIDS. It is used as a juice or a retained enema. The green fruit, leave, stem and seed are used to obtain the juice.
The fruit has similar properties to the Indian bitter melon.
DNO, this is really a weekend challenge. Good idea!
This is a beautiful and colorful fruit. The inside looks edible and tasty. Makes me wish for one or two. Someone mentioned the name which the Jamaicans call it. I suppose that those who drink it purchase it in a box which has the following:
The Nutritional Facts Serving Size 1 cup (240ml), 8.12 fl.oz.
Nutritional Facts as per the box is Calories – 0, Total Fat Og, Sodium Omg – 0%, Total Carbohydrates less than 1g – 0%, Protein 0g
Percent Daily value are based on a 2,000 calories diet. Not a significant source of calories from fat, cholesterol, dietary fibre, vitamins A and C, calcium and iron.
Therefore it will not cause weight-gain.
The Canadian and no doubt the U.S. governments have made it mandatory that the nutritional facts be printed on all food and tea products. That is the Law. People are concerned about eating and drinking fattening ones. I am not concerned at all because I do not overeat and drink. I hardly ever read the Nutri. facts. I am a moderate person.
On the box which I purchased at a Jamaican grocery store, it states: Story of Jamaican Cerasee – This is a creeping herb which grows profusely on fences and on the ground. Yellow flowers and orange fruits are found all over the vine. The fruits can be eaten, and are very sweet when ripe. Please share with a friend. Thanks for your support. I had to smile at this. It is all written on the box.
I hope that since it also grows in Dominica and is manufactured for at least a merchant in DA and sold there, there will be a write-up about “this Dominica fruit” on the box.
I believe the name “Cerasee” that the JA’s call it may be Portugese, if I am not mistaken. Correct me if I err. The next time I return to the store I will ask the owner about it. There is some writing in that language.
Have a blessed, enjoyable, happy and peaceful weekend.
This is the fruit form the pomcoolie I used to eat
it when I was in DA but it called bitter melon
in New York and its used for diabetes.
yes thats kookoolie
I was wondering if is Laplaine people alone that called it kookoolie; but different parts of the island might call it differently. but it is bitter and zandoli likes it. the vine is used as cooling.
use to eat when i was small right now u don’t see that any more by luck and chance u can find that
who dont know dat nah DNO lol, it’s so common. when i was younger i use to eat da lil red seeds inside of it
@ Pretty S
Well name it! This is what DNO asked for or have you done so in an earlier comment.
That’s right. The seeds have an orange/red like color. The leaves are used for cooling (but too much tastes very bitter). Don’t know the scientific name, but locally, it’s called Coocooli
Thank you DNO for this informative piece. I’ve lived in DA all my life, heard my mother and grandmother speak of “pomkoulee” and its general uses as a coolant or “wash-out” but I could swear this is the first I’m seeing of it. Ahhh, shame on my part!
@ Yes Fada
If that is its name, I heard of the name as well but this is the first time I am seeing the fruit.
What? I’m in a southern state now and my neighbor who is Jamaican has it on her fence. Surely, you can find it in DA, I saw it in River Estate in May.
Whey papa obeah ????? Get me some now I need it some
Body obeah me I in north America
I don’t know the name of it, but it isn’t a great tasting fruit if you choose to eat it, but as juice, its taste is great!
@ Anoushah
Can the juice be mixed with water and/or sweetened? I expect so. Then it should taste better. Probably a little hard liquor, or some white wine and sherry may do the trick?
coocooli used to ward obeah and evil spells lol
well it’s called coocoolie idk the name i English.
it is used to treat fungal infections affecting the skin such as ring worm and also can be utilized in a hot bath for fever.
Funny, I didn’t remember our local patois name but I remember the Jamicans calling it Cerasse, and it’s used for the ailments mentioned by all the commenters. I’m currently using it for a skin rash and to control my pressure and sugar. I normally steep just a cup of tea, but since my spouse is into it now, I boil a pot, cool it and keep refrigerated and we drink during the day, mindful not to drink too much and have our pressure drop too low.
@ Teresa
Having read your comment and noticed the name “Cerasse”, it rang a bell and I thought I had bought the tea bags approximately one year ago at a West Indian grocery store in Toronto. I did not like the taste in that it tasted bitter and so it was never touched again. I took it out and looked at it.
Well, the tea bags inside the box have a nice smell. Can’t wait to try it again. Probably later. It has approximately 24 tea bags. I usually sweeten such tea with honey. As days go by, hope you feel better.
It is written on the box, “Jamaican Herbal Tea, Cerasee Tea Bags”. There is a picture of the tree and fruits on the box. I will try drinking it sometime just because I saw it on DNO and those of you are familiar with it gave me the incentive to try it again.
just now realised that this is what Jamaicans call cerassie tea too. I also bought cerassie tea in the past but discarded it as too bitter. But I will try it again as I have high blood pressure.
That looks like a KOO KOOLIE flower and fruit to me.
Pomme Coolee or coocoolee in Dominica. Paoka in the french islands.
We would use it as a tizanne,what we call cooling; when ripe, we would suck the seeds.
In the french islands, a bigger variety existi, which are picked green, cut into small pieces, seeds removed, and heated at low steam, mixed with curry and salt fish until soft, and served with white rice. It tastes bitter, but good.
It is also said that men should not suck the seeds, not drink the plant because it can cause impotence.
Pom kolie, it is very good for many elements
coocoolie!!!! i live in St Kitts and here they call it Lizard Food!
my mom used to draw the leaves and keep the water in the fridge, and drink it cold. I never had it myself, but i know she said its good for cooling. i loved the fruit though, used to suck the red seeds. The taste is very delicate, and sweet.
KOKOULI
Pomkolli. Very good for diabetics. Help control blood sugar
pomkolie
a baby passionfruit
The appearance and the inside look like it.
COOCOOLEE
kookoonlee
I know if for punk-colee
i use it as a cooling.
it bring down your sugar level
waiz my comment nah
I want seeds. Who can give me some ???? Thamks
For once, we all agreed and got it right…lol Cocoolie, Ceracee or Pumpcoolie…..yeah we know our stuff.
it is bitter ,is is used for cooling ,and it is very preety
Yep all those who said CooCoolie/CouCoulie are correct not sure what other names there are for it…use to eat it as a child…
that is not guava nonnnn!!!
we call it ponkoolee in the North East.we use it to bathe in the sea
I don’t know its name but it is a beautiful looking fruit that i would like to taste.
This is the Coucoulee vine and fruit.
Fruit used as snack and recess for kids in the countryside
The leaves and vine used for making cooling after purging (washout), bathing to remove rash on skin, and mixed with lachay lamowee for taking baths in the river mouth (lambatam/ gel boosheewee) as at midnight for the removal of obeah spells
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
Fruit used as snack and recess for kids in the countryside? Which countryside? Because I am from the countryside and we never ate that. That is Pumcoulee used as ‘wayfwayshy”…people who have like rashes I think are bathes in it
Eaten for pleasure just like guavas or chenips, not for snack. It really cannot full your stomach.
I am from the countryside, and we never used this for snacks and recess.
Oh boy…sorry about your up-brining. Looks like you were raised in the country as a town person
. Little village bougoise.
I am a very very proud country boy. I ate lots of it while attending primary school on the east coast. Those were the days when guava, fat-pock/ zikark, mangoes, shaddeck, berries and poir-pow-yea etc were the snacks of the day.
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
ok, its pomme koolie, very delicious fruit, the leaf is good for cooling, though bitter but good for cleansing of the bladder, diabetics use it for expelling excess sugar in the urine. the fruit is very sweet
this is called pomne colie, used for making cooling for high blood pressure, diabetes and the bush is crushed in baby’s bath when they have heat rash
THIS MAJAI ZOZEZOU
This Coocoolie, used as a cooling. very better. Often used for medication for High blood presure.
very bitter. Typo!
@ Marilyn
You know how children love the sweet-tasting medicine. I recall my father would always say, the best medicine are the bitter-tasting ones as castor oil and worm medicine, the latter to flush out the residue from eating too mangoes and other fruits while on school holidays. We had to drink them prior to returning to school.
They did us good anyway. We soon forgot the taste. Then as we grew older he gave us the sweet-tasting ones. They tasted better.
zandoley food dat. lol
If it is called zandoley and I knew that I would never eat the fruit or drink the tea. It would upset me.
They look prickly. Why would they call the fruits zandoley or the shape of it probably looks like one? I cannot recall tasting the fruit or drinking the tea in DA.
Pomcouli i had some just the other day drank it as cooling. its also good to bathe baby for prickle heats as a matter of fact is a good things for everybody. we use to call the fruit ahbolor fruit.
the name of this fruit/vegetable is bitter melon in some asian countries; cerasi/koukouli in the caribbean.
oh how i love Pineapple. would eat one right now
Seriously? Research pineapple. Not even close.
this is good for cleansing, good for regulating blood sugar, & good for those who are anemic.
the leaves can be used like spinach or other kinds of leaves to put in the soup. it can also be use as a tea.
the fruit, can be cooked w/ eggs as an omelette or can be mixed w/ salad.
I’ll try this recipe. I love bitter and green stuff, However, be careful how much you use.
Scientific Name: Momordica charantia
Family: Cucurbitaceae
English Name: Bitter Cucumber, Bitter Melon
Chamorro Name: Atmagoso
Local (Dominica) Name: Pomme Coolie
Other Caribbean Name: Cerasee
Pomme Coolie has several active biological compounds that help kill cancer cells (breast) and prevent them from multiplying . Lab tests show its effectiveness for treating HIV infection. Helps control diabetes. Also good for treating Malaria, gastrointestinal diseases and several other ailments.
SO that’s Cerasee…Nature Fresh uses it for one of their bush tees…thanks for the info
that not bitter melon
Thanks for that info Bush Doctor. This seems to grow very easily without cultivation … wonder if there is commercial value in it…
Great job Bush Doctor, I love the education.
You are correct man, that’s what it is used for. Other names are Maiden apple, Balsam apple, Poaka (in Trinidad). The Medicinal uses are many, and is also used for cold,fever. Leaves are chewed for sore throats. It is used to clean the skin and be taken as a purge by drinking for several days.In some Caribbean countries women use it to treat Menstrual problems and as birth a control use.
Very well said, they are for the healing of the nations.
by the chinese in bath estate all you take that out man
This looks like Coocoolee – my spelling is from me saying it
The leaves are also used for cooling
Come on DNO that one is too easy.
This is ponm kouli. I’m not sure whether the fruit has a specific use but i know It is eaten just for pleasure. The vine however is used as a cooling. This cooling is extremely bitter.
Maybe DNO should have a test for the correct spelling? Who would spell it correctly?
“Koolin”, “Koukouli”, “Pomme Kouli”, “Ponm Kouli”,
carila, cerasee, crapaud pumpkin, kokouli, konkonb kouli, koukouli, lizard dinner, lizard food, maiden apple, maiden’s bush, miraculous vine, pear apple, pom kouli, Pomme coolie, pomme z’Indiens, pomme-marveille, snake apple bush, Ti-concombre, washer woman, wild balsam apple
Cucurbitaceae Momordica charantia L.
Yes i recognised that fruit. some people call it pump coolie. others call it coocoolie. it has red seeds on the inside which we normally suckle as kids growing. This plant has a type of vine or lianas which we use to draw tea to make cooline. wen its drawn we can drink it. it is said that its good for persons how has contracted inflammation. in a nutshell the vine is used as a cleanser when drawn. our natural herb cleansing.
Coocooli..not sure what the real name is.
Thats a Breadfruit any day!
@ Little BIG
I gave you thumbs up anyway for also making me laugh. Too often we do not have a sense of humour. We should read ‘the humour’ between the lines.
This is some small breadfruit. 
Whatever, it serves a health purpose.
its grown on pomcoulie… when i was small my mom use to take this vine an crush it in water an bathe me… lol i remember the good old dayz
Pomcolie my grandmother used it for cooling something so not sure
Kookooli. Beautiful! Flower and fruit. The leaves good for wash out after the weekend drinking. The seeds insdie are red and we used to suck that, especially during school time. That was fun.
pumkulie
“Let’s have a some fun.”????????????????????? english dno, english!!!! proofread before posting.
@ HEHE
You proofread before posting. The first letter in ‘English’ should be a capital letter. ‘DNO’ in Capitals! When you correct others ensure that you, too, are correct.
Eat it alot as a child. it’s very nice
CouCouLee
cocoli
koo-coolie plant
Dudes, this fruit even grows here in Atlanta, GA. pomkuli – my spelling might be wrong.
I wonder if in Atlanta they think it is a wild vine with a fruit which is not edible.
Some time ago I accessed a health Website and noticed an article pertaining to ‘plants that are grown in the wild’ and which are edible. How often we are not aware of their health benefits. Research is conducted and they are found to be edible and healthy for consumption.
Pampooli
I don’t know the scientific name but the patois name for it is “Cuculy” (correction in spelling). It is can be eaten as a fruit. The vine is used as a cooling and is considered to be useful for a bath.
pom-collie ( pardon my spelling)
I eat the fruit and the vine can be used to help with skin rash
pomme colie (or however it spells)… i cant take the smell of it at all
cooo coooo leeeee
koo koo lee
it good for woman dat jus make chile
to clean dem up again .
de drink bitter tho.
de inside when open slowly is kine of red and inviting .
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