Kiwano is a traditional food plant in Africa. Along with the Gemsbok cucumber ("Acanthosicyos naudinianus") and Tsamma ("Citron melon"), it is one of the few sources of water during the dry season in the Kalahari Desert. In northern Zimbabwe, it is called "gaka" or "gakachika". There it is primarily used as a snack or salad, and rarely for decoration.