The pea augergine is actually grown on a plant known as the turkey berry, which is a bushy, erect and spiny perennial plant used horticulturally as a rootstock for aubergine.

The fruits are berries that grow in clusters of tiny green spheres (c.1cm in diameter) that look like green peas. They become yellow when fully ripe. They are thin-fleshed and contain numerous flat, round, brown seeds.

The green fresh fruits are edible, although bitter in flavour with a fairly tough skin, and are used in Thai cuisine, being one of the essential elements of yellow and green curries. They are also used in Lao cuisine. They cook quickly and are usually added to the curry for about 5 minutes to soften slightly.