Monkfruit

The monkfruit, or luohan guo (Siraitia grosvenorii) is a herbaceous plant from the gourd family. It is native to southern China and northern Thailand. The plant is used to get something called mogroside, which is sweeter than table sugar. It has been used as a low-calorie sweetener for drinks and different food's due to it's sweetness and not loosing sweetness at high temperatures. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine.

 Overview 
The plant is a vine which is about 3-5m long. The narrow, heart-shaped leaves are 10–20 cm long. The fruit is round, 5–7 cm in diameter, smooth, yellow-brownish or green-brownish in color.

The flesh inside of the fruit is eaten, and the rind is used for making tea. The fruit is mostly known for being very sweet.

 Brand Names 
Some brand names monk fruit is sold under include SweetLeaf, Splenda, and Whole Earth.

 References 

Category:Cucurbitaceae
Category:Fruits