|
 |
 |
| Passion fruit |
 |
Passion fruit has a round to oval shape; yellow or dark purple at maturity, it has a juicy interior filled with numerous seeds.
There are two types of passion fruit with different exterior appearances.
One is the bright yellow type, also known as the Golden Passion Fruit, which grows up to the size of a grapefruit.
Yellow passion fruit has a smooth, glossy, light and airy rind. The dark purple passion fruit is smaller than the yellow passion fruit with the size of lemon. It has a dry, wrinkled rind at maturity. The purple variety is more susceptive to pests and disease, thus difficult to grow, but the reward is the amazingly refreshing aroma and complex flavor of sweet and tart. Because of the sweet flavor, the purple passion fruit is preferred for consuming fresh; the yellow for juice processing and the making of preserves
Passion fruit is widely grown in Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa. It is commonly used in a variety of juice and desert such as mousse, cake, and ice cream. It is also a popular ingredient for tropical cocktails. Passion fruit is a good source of vitamin C (118% DV for 1 cup serving) and Vitamin A(60% DV for 1 cup serving), Potassium (23% DV for 1 cup serving), dietary fiber (98% DV for 1 cup serving), and Iron (21% DV for 1 cup serving). |
| |
| History |
|
Passion fruit is native from southern Brazil through Paraguay to northern Argentina. This subtropical fruit is now widely grown in Brazil, the Caribbean, Hawaii Australia, East Africa, South Africa, India and other Asian countries. In Thailand, passion fruit is grown in northern region.
The passion fruit takes its name from its exotic flower known as "flor de las cinco lagas" (flower of the five wounds), which was used to symbolize the "Passion of Christ".
As herbal medicine, passion flower has a long history of use for symptoms of restlessness, anxiety, and agitation. |
| |
| Enjoy Passion Fruit! |
|
The harvest season differs depending on the type of passion fruit. In some areas, as in India, the vines bear throughout the year but peak periods are, first, August to December, and, second, March to May. In Hawaii, passion fruit matures from June through January, with heaviest crops in July and August and October and November.
The fruit is of easy preparation. Cut it in half and scoop out the seedy pulp with a spoon. You can eat the pulp with cream and sugar or use it in fruit salads or in beverages, seeds and all as Australians often do. It is also common to be squeezed to remove seeds. The resulting rich juice can be sweetened and mixed with water or other juices (especially orange or pineapple), to make cold drinks. In South Africa, passionfruit juice is blended with milk and an alginate; in Australia the pulp is added to yogurt. Passion fruit juice can be boiled down to a syrup that can be used in making sauces, ice cream, sherbet, cake filling, or cocktails. The seeded pulp is made into jelly or is combined with pineapple or tomato in making jam. |
| |
| Sources |
|
Wikipedia
National Institute of Science
Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plants Products |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
The copyrights / trademarks of all material provided on this Site belong to Radee Wine, Inc. Sacramento CA.
None of the material may be reproduced, copied, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form
without the prior written consent of Radee Wine, Inc. |
|
