Passion fruit is also called “purple granadilla” since its characteristics resemble the pomegranate (granadilla means “little pomegranate” in Spanish). Now let’s check these 10 interesting facts about passion fruit and learn more about it.
10 Facts about Passion Fruit
Passion fruit is a native of Brazil and migrated through Paraguay to northern Argentina. Thereafter it was grown in Hawaii, Florida, and California. New Zealand is also a major cultivator of passion fruits.
The purple passion fruit of New Zealand is very popular and it is exported to various parts of the world including US markets.
Passion fruit is a vigorous climbing vine and it can grow 15 – 20 ft per year if it has strong support. The evergreen leaves are alternate and 3-lobed. The flowers are fragrant and usually occur in a single bloom. Fruits are round or ovoid, 1 – 3 inches long, having a tough, smooth, and waxy rind, purple or dark purple color with faint white or yellow dots. The seeds are edible; therefore it’s very easy to eat the flesh as a whole.
As a rule, passion fruit contains up to 50% natural juice and this is a very high percentage. The percentage of natural juice content depends on the degree of ripeness of this fruit. That is why this fruit has a diuretic effect.
Generally, passion fruits are found in two varieties: New Zealand passion fruit – purple, Hawaiian passion fruit – yellow.
Passion fruit is available from April through August.
While selecting passion fruits, choose the large, heavy, and firm fruits. If the fruit is ripe, it is wrinkled, dimpled, and has deep purple skin. Keep it at room temperature if it is unripe or else you can keep the ripened fruit inside the refrigerator.
Passion fruit juice is strong and rich flavored with a pleasant aroma. While the undiluted juice is quite concentrated, it can be added with other fruit juices or simply drunk by adding water and sugar. You can make excellent jelly, pie filling, and cake frosting with Passion fruit.
The flesh of purple passion fruit may be eaten by itself since it is sweeter and less acidic than the yellow variety.
Passion fruit juice is an extremely good source of Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid. It also contains Vitamin A or carotenoids, potassium, and iron. One passion fruit provides only 16 calories. When eaten passion fruit is a good source of fiber.
Hope you enjoy these ten facts about passion fruit.
