subject: Passion In The Color Purple: Introducing The Passionfruit [print this page] In other parts of the world, passionfruit is considered an "exotic" fruit. But here in New Zealand, it is probably taken for granted, as many of us grew up eating these egg-shaped, dark, purple fruit. It is hard to imagine that many people have never even heard of, much less tasted, this delicious treat.
The Hidden Beauty of Passionfruit
The dark purple variety is the most common here in New Zealand, but there are also reddish and yellow fruits as well. While its color is quite nice, the passionfruit is not about to win any beauty contests. As the fruit ripens, the skin becomes increasingly dimpled and wrinkled, even oldish-looking. It doesn't exactly entice you to take a generous bite out of one. And you would be well-advised not to do so, as the skin is quite bitter, and even contains a bit of poison (more on that later).
But once you slice into one with a knife, you'll discover the lovely jelly-like interior, dotted with small, dark seeds. The pulp is highly aromatic, somewhat watery, and has a taste similar to that of guava.
Passionfruit Seeds: To Eat or Not to Eat
The seeds of the passionfruit are encased with a thin covering of the flesh, similar to that of the pomegranate. In fact, another name for passionfruit is a purple granadilla, and granadilla means "little pomegranate" in Spanish. Purists of the fruit will simply take a spoon, scoop out the flesh, and pop the whole spoonful into their mouths, seeds and all. In fact, many enjoy the crunchy texture added by the seeds. It makes a great addition to fruit salads, or as a topping for desserts, such as pavlova.
Of course, if you prefer a smoother texture, you can simply strain the pulp through a sieve or cheesecloth. The juice can then be added to other juices as a flavoring, or used to make a syrup.
Interesting Qualities of Passionfruit
Medicinal Uses for Passionfruit Like many exotic fruits, passionfruit is rich with many beneficial components. It is high in beta carotene, potassium and fibre (especially if you eat the seeds). It is also an excellent source of vitamin C. But more interestingly, there is evidence that both the pulp and fruit of passionfruit can have some mild sedative effects. This is because of the glycosides and flavonoids found in the fruit. The peel of the purple fruit have been told to contain traces of poison, namely cyanide, but do not pose any danger (although you really shouldn't eat the skin anyway). On the other hand, the skin has also shown promise in drugs that reduce asthma symptoms.
Origins of the Passionfruit Name
It is said that the name for the passion flower comes from Catholic missionaries in South America because the flower of the plant had qualities that reminded them of the passion of Christ. The threads of the flower brought to mind the crown of thorns and the three stigmas symbolized the nails on the cross.
If you have the good fortune to live in New Zealand, you also get to enjoy a wide variety of fruits and vegetables not readily found in other parts of the world. These include the somewhat odd-looking passionfruit, which are generally available from February to July.
