Tori / Gilki / Nenua /Jhinga

Sponge Gourd (Tori / Gilki / Nenua) – Description:

Botanical Name: Luffa cylindrica (also known as Luffa aegyptiaca)
Family: Cucurbitaceae (Cucumber family)

---

🌿 Description:

Sponge gourd is a long, green, ridged vegetable that looks similar to a ridge gourd but is softer and more tender when young. Its outer skin is dark green with shallow ridges, and the inner flesh is white, spongy, and full of moisture. When mature and dried, the inner fibrous part is used as a natural loofah (bath sponge) — hence the name Sponge Gourd.

---

🌱 Plant Characteristics:

• It is a fast-growing climbing vine with large green leaves and yellow flowers.

• Grows well in warm, tropical climates, especially during the summer and rainy seasons.

• Requires well-drained fertile soil and regular watering.

---

🥒 Nutritional Value:

Sponge gourd is low in calories and fat but rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and potassium.
It contains more than 90% water, making it very light and easy to digest.

---

💪 Health Benefits:

• Promotes digestion and relieves constipation.

• Helps in weight loss due to its low-calorie, high-fiber nature.

• Keeps the body cool and hydrated.

• Supports liver function and detoxification.

• Reduces acidity and improves skin health.

---

🛒 Culinary Uses:

• Commonly cooked as sabzi (vegetable curry) with spices and onions.

• Used in soups, dals, and stir-fries.

• In some regions, also used in stuffed vegetable dishes.

---

🌍 Common Names:

• Hindi: Tori / Gilki / Nenua

• English: Sponge Gourd / Smooth Luffa

• Telugu: Beerakaya

• Tamil: Peerkangai

• Bengali: Jhinga / Nenua