Gac fruits is the size of a small melon and grows on climbing vines than can reach 6 meters long. They are often found growing on lattices or arbors in gardens and rural homes throughout Vietnam. The fruits first appear green, but later ripen to a dark orange color and have a rounded oblong shape approximately 13 cm in length and 10 cm in diameter. The coarse rind has a spiny exterior that covers a layer of light orange spongy flesh called the mesocarp, which is usually discarded. The inner core is packed with edible, magenta-red oily sacs that are very mild in taste. They have a moderate sweetness some may compare to the fresh fruitiness of a cucumber or melon with a hint of carrot.
Frozen Gac Fruit
Gac Fruit, or simply Gac as it is referred to in Southeast Asia, is a tropical vine that is botanically classified as Momordica cochinchinensis. It is also commonly known as Baby Jackfruit, Spiny Bitter Gourd, Sweet Gourd or Cochinchin Gourd. It has an extremely short season, a mere two months long, but the fruit plays an important role in celebratory dishes as well as in natural medicine. Until recently, Gac has been a mystery outside of its native lands, but the juice has since been marketed as a dietary supplement because of its allegedly high phytonutrient content.