passion fruit

Passion fruit
Ripe purple type from Australia and its cross section
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Passifloraceae
Genus:	Passiflora
Species:	P. edulis
Binomial name
Passiflora edulis Sims

For the German pop group, see Passion Fruit (band).

Passiflora edulis or passion fruit is a plant cultivated commercially in frost-free areas for its fruit. It is native to South America and widely grown in India, New Zealand, the Caribbean, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Peru, California, Florida, Hawaii, Australia, East Africa, Israel and South Africa. The passion fruit is round to oval, yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous seeds. The fruit can be grown to eat or for its juice, which is often added to other fruit juices to enhance the aroma.^{[citation needed]}

The two types of passion fruit have clearly differing exterior appearances. The bright yellow variety of passion fruit, which is also known as the Golden Passion fruit, can grow up to the size of a grapefruit, has a smooth, glossy, light and airy rind, and has been used as a rootstock for the purple passion fruit in Australia.^[1] The dark purple passion fruit is smaller than a lemon.

The purple varieties of the fruit reportedly^{[by whom?]} have traces of cyanogenic glycosides in the skin, and hence are mildly poisonous.^{[citation needed]} However, the thick, hard skin is barely edible.

These forms of Passiflora edulis have been found to be different species.^{[dubious – discuss]} They occur in different climate regions in nature and bloom at different times of day.^{[dubious – discuss]} The purple-fruited species is self-fertile and the yellow fruited species, despite claims to the contrary,^{[by whom?]} is self-sterile and requires two clones for pollination.^{[citation needed]}

Uses

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A glass of passion fruit juice

Wine, or 'sicar', made from passion fruit at a winery in Israel.

• In New Zealand and Australia, where it is spelled "passionfruit", it is available commercially both fresh and canned. Fresh passion fruit is added to fruit salads, and fresh fruit pulp or passion fruit sauce is commonly used in desserts, including as a topping for pavlova (a regional meringue cake) and icecream, a flavouring for cheesecake, and in the icing of vanilla slices.

• In Peru, passion fruit is used in several desserts, specially cheesecakes. It is also drunk alone as passion fruit juice and used in ceviche variations and in cocktails, including the passion fruit sour, a variation of the pisco sour

• In the Dominican Republic, it is used to make juice and jams. Passion fruit-flavoured syrup is used on shaved ice, and the fruit is also eaten raw sprinkled with sugar.

• In Puerto Rico, it is widely believed to lower blood pressure.^{[citation needed]} This is probably because it contains harmala alkaloids and is a mild RIMA.^{[citation needed]} Passion fruit juice is also very common there.

• In the Philippines, passion fruit is commonly sold in public markets and in public schools. Some vendors sell the fruit with a straw on it to suck the seeds and juices inside. It is not very popular because of its sour flavor, and the fruit is very seasonal.

• In Brazil, passion fruit mousse is a common dessert, and passion fruit seeds are routinely used to decorate the tops of cakes. Passion fruit juice is also very common.

• In Mexico, passion fruit is used to make juice or is eaten raw with chile powder and lime.

• In Indonesia it is eaten straight as a fruit. It is also common to strain the passion fruit for its juice and cook it with sugar to make thick syrup. Bottles or plastic jugs of concentrated syrup (generally produced in Sumatra from fruit grown in the Lake Toba region^{[citation needed]}) are sold in many supermarkets. Dilution of 1 part syrup to 4 (or more) parts water is recommended.

• In Hawaii, the varieties are called yellow liliko'i and purple liliko'i and the fruit is normally eaten raw. Hawaiians usually crack the rind of the passion fruit either with their hands or teeth and suck out the flavorful pulp and seeds.^{[citation needed]} Passion fruit can also be cut in half and the pulp can easily be scooped out with a spoon. Passion fruit-flavored syrup is a popular topping for shave ice. Ice cream and mochi are also flavored with passion fruit, as well as many other desserts such as cookies, cakes, and ice cream. Passion fruit is also favored as a jam or jelly, as well as a butter. Passion fruit is not widely available in stores, so most of the fruit comes from backyard gardens or wild groves. It can be found, however, in farmers' markets throughout the islands.

• In South Africa, passion fruit, known locally as Granadilla, is used to flavor yogurt. It is also used to flavour soft drinks such as Schweppes Sparkling Granadilla and numerous cordial drinks. It is often eaten raw, or used as a topping for cakes and tarts. Granadilla juice is commonly available in restaurants.

Nutrition

Fresh passion fruit is high in vitamin A, potassium, and dietary fiber. Passion fruit juice is a good source of ascorbic acid (vitamin C).^[2] The yellow variety is used for juice processing, while the purple variety is sold in fresh fruit markets.

Cultural references

The passion fruit has had a religious association as reflected by the name "passion" given to it by Catholic missionaries who thought that certain parts of the fruit bore some religious connections.^{[citation needed]} These missionaries (who were joined by the Spanish Conquistadors in South America), saw a way of illustrating the Crucifixion:

• The three stigmas were to reflect the three nails in Jesus's hands and feet.
• The threads of the passion flower were believed to be a symbol of the crown of thorns.
• The vine's tendrils were likened to the whips.
• The five anthers represented the five wounds.
• The ten petals and sepals regarded to resemble the apostles (excluding Judas and Peter).

Passion fruit is also mentioned in the movie Sideways, where oenophile Miles (Paul Giamatti) mentions smelling the fruit in one of the wines he samples. "Now, stick your nose in it. Don't be shy, really get your nose in there. Mmm... a little citrus... maybe some strawberry... passion fruit... and, oh, there's just like the faintest soupçon of like asparagus and just a flutter of a... like a nutty Edam cheese..."

See also

• Giant granadilla
• Sweet granadilla
• Granadilla

Gallery

		Purple passion fruit, which in Colombia is called "gulupa", to distinguish it from the yellow maracuyá	The inside of the same passion fruit
Yellow passion fruits for sale	Purple passion fruits for sale	Yellow and purple passion fruits, side by side	Passion fruit still on the vine

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Passiflora edulis

• Fruits of Warm Climates: Passionfruit
• California Rare Fruit Growers: Passion Fruit Fruit Facts
• Passiflora Society International
• Australian Passionfruit Varieties
• Phytochemicals in Passion Fruit
• Passiflora Online
• How to Grow Passionfruit
• Passion
• Parcha/ The Story Behind The Name
• "Memorable Quotes for Sideways" Internet Movie Database