All About The Prickly Pear

A member of the genus 'Opuntia' (of the Cactaceae group) and also known as the paddle cactus

, the prickly pear is a plant of great importance to Mexico. Many uses for the cactus and many delicious recipes have been developed for it's use in dishes over Mexico's history. Of such importance is the cactus, that it is even featured in the Mexican coat of arms

The pears grow with flattened shoots (known as cladodes) and have more than one type of spine. The plant produces a fruit that is very commonly eaten in Mexico, where it is often known as 'tuna'. It's also marketed as Indian or Cactus figs and the spikes must be removed very carefully before consumption, lest tongues be accidentally poked. It also grows in Cyprus, on the island of Malta, and in Bulgaria, France, and Italy.

Used even in taco filling, small stem components are also mixed with eggs and in other Mexican dishes; they are called nopales. The fruits are used to make candy and jellies, and are often found as a flavoring option for drinks like agua fresca. A popular cocktail mixes the prickly pear juice with vodka, and it's sometimes drunk as lemonade. Native populations have distilled the liquid into a spirit called 'colonche', which is potently alcoholic on its own.

Having medicinal properties the prickly pear is used in that regard. It contains alkaloids, a set of chemical compounds which are a significant part of several different types of drugs, from codeine-based cough syrups to the analgesic morphine. Some species have been researched for their potential to treat type II diabetes, and others are used as hangover cures, since they can help reduce nausea, dry mouth, and inflammations.

This helpful cactus has been used for thousands of years as a convenient farming ground for the Dactylopius coccus, an insect that is parasitic for the plant and which produces bright red carminic acid. A bright red dye is created from Cochineal, an important aspect of food coloring and cosmetics, and even before the Spanish conquest it was used by the Aztecs and the Maya peoples. By adding the liquid element from the stems and pads of the plant to plaster, it has been found to increase the working properties of the mixed slurry by controlling the water content..

The coat of arms of Mexico famously features a golden eagle. However, you might not recall what the eagle is perched on: an Opuntia plant. The symbol comes from an Aztec legend which addresses the founding of Tenochtitlan, one of its largest cities. According to the myth, the then-nomadic tribe was wandering through the desert of mesoamerica when their god, Huitzilopochtil, commanded them to build their capital on the spot where they saw an eagle devouring a snack, while sitting on a cactus that grew on a rock which was submerged in a lake. The people found this sign at the shores of Texcoco, and settled there. Truly, this plant is a vital part of the country's national history, culinary tradition, and identity.

by: Robert Nickel

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