Produce Briefs...
Maui Onions
Two characteristics set the Maui onion apart from other yellow onions: the high sugar and high moisture content of its flesh.
Cantaloupe Melon
The cantaloupe is defined by two elements: its roughly netted stone and green colored skin and its aromatic orange-coral colored flesh. When perfectly ripe, the flesh is juicy, unctuous and sweet.
Seasons/Availability
Purple Passion Fruit is available year round with a peak in season late winter through summer.
Current Facts
Passion Fruit, also known as Granadilla is of the family Passifloraceae. There are several varieties of Passion Fruit but the two main commercial types on the market today are the Purple Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis L.) and Yellow Passion Fruit (P. edulis f. flavicarpa).
Description/Taste
Purple Passion fruit is a small, oval to round shaped fruit, approximately two to three inches in diameter at maturity. The fruit's skin is smooth, yet dimpled and at peak maturity can be heavily wrinkled. The skin's color varies with hues of dark purple and red. Below the skin is a cottony white peel. The interior seed cavity is filled with edible yellow to green jelly and medium sized black seeds. Its pulp is highly aromatic and has a tropical sweet tart flavor with nuances of pineapple, papaya, mango, citrus and guava.
Nutritional Value
The pulp of the Passion Fruit is rich in Vitamins A and C and its edible seeds are an excellent source of dietary fiber. Its pulp has also been found to be rich in phytochemicals aka antioxidants, which have been shown to help to prevent certain cancers and support a healthy immune system. The flower of the Passion Fruit has been used for centuries by many cultures as a medicinal supplement to treat insomnia, asthma, anxiety and menopause. The inner white rind of the Passion Fruit is currently being studied as well for its ability to reduce asthma symptoms and alleviate the pain caused by osteoarthritis.
Applications
Purple Passion Fruits are prized for the jelly like pulp they contain, which can be used raw or cooked in a number of dessert and beverage preparations. Slice in half and use a spoon to remove the gelatinous contents. Both the pulp and seeds are edible and ready to eat as is, for a less tart flavor add a little sugar and cream to it before serving. Serve Passion Fruit atop salads, ice cream or yogurt. To remove the seeds squeeze the inner contents of the fruit through cheesecloth. The seed free pulp of the Passion Fruit can be cooked down to make syrup for use in beverages, sauces, soups, preserves, sherbets, pie fillings, frostings, marshmallows and cakes.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The vines of the Passion Fruit produce large white flowers with intricate purple, green, black and yellow detailing. It is from these flowers that the Passion Fruit gets its name as Spanish missionaries felt the appearance of the flower had a resemblance to some of the symbolism found in the Passion of the Christ (the three stigmas as the three nails, the corona as the crown of thorns, the five stamens as the five wounds, the five petals and five sepals as the ten apostles and the purple petals as the purple robe).
Geography/History
The Purple Passion Fruit is a subtropical fruit native to southern Brazil, Paraguay and Northern Argentina. In the late 1800’s they were also found to be growing in the coastal areas of Australia then soon after made their way to Hawaii via seeds brought over from Australia. It grows vigorously as a vine and is able to stretch its branches across trellises, walls and the canopies of rainforest trees. Passion Fruit thrives in warm to hot climates that experience moderate rainfall and rare frost. Commercial production today comes out of India, New Zealand, the Caribbean, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Peru, Australia, Israel, Africa and in the United States from Florida and California.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Passion Fruit. One
is easiest, three is harder.
Purple Passion Fruit is available year round with a peak in season late winter through summer.
Current Facts
Passion Fruit, also known as Granadilla is of the family Passifloraceae. There are several varieties of Passion Fruit but the two main commercial types on the market today are the Purple Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis L.) and Yellow Passion Fruit (P. edulis f. flavicarpa).
Description/Taste
Purple Passion fruit is a small, oval to round shaped fruit, approximately two to three inches in diameter at maturity. The fruit's skin is smooth, yet dimpled and at peak maturity can be heavily wrinkled. The skin's color varies with hues of dark purple and red. Below the skin is a cottony white peel. The interior seed cavity is filled with edible yellow to green jelly and medium sized black seeds. Its pulp is highly aromatic and has a tropical sweet tart flavor with nuances of pineapple, papaya, mango, citrus and guava.
Nutritional Value
The pulp of the Passion Fruit is rich in Vitamins A and C and its edible seeds are an excellent source of dietary fiber. Its pulp has also been found to be rich in phytochemicals aka antioxidants, which have been shown to help to prevent certain cancers and support a healthy immune system. The flower of the Passion Fruit has been used for centuries by many cultures as a medicinal supplement to treat insomnia, asthma, anxiety and menopause. The inner white rind of the Passion Fruit is currently being studied as well for its ability to reduce asthma symptoms and alleviate the pain caused by osteoarthritis.
Applications
Purple Passion Fruits are prized for the jelly like pulp they contain, which can be used raw or cooked in a number of dessert and beverage preparations. Slice in half and use a spoon to remove the gelatinous contents. Both the pulp and seeds are edible and ready to eat as is, for a less tart flavor add a little sugar and cream to it before serving. Serve Passion Fruit atop salads, ice cream or yogurt. To remove the seeds squeeze the inner contents of the fruit through cheesecloth. The seed free pulp of the Passion Fruit can be cooked down to make syrup for use in beverages, sauces, soups, preserves, sherbets, pie fillings, frostings, marshmallows and cakes.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The vines of the Passion Fruit produce large white flowers with intricate purple, green, black and yellow detailing. It is from these flowers that the Passion Fruit gets its name as Spanish missionaries felt the appearance of the flower had a resemblance to some of the symbolism found in the Passion of the Christ (the three stigmas as the three nails, the corona as the crown of thorns, the five stamens as the five wounds, the five petals and five sepals as the ten apostles and the purple petals as the purple robe).
Geography/History
The Purple Passion Fruit is a subtropical fruit native to southern Brazil, Paraguay and Northern Argentina. In the late 1800’s they were also found to be growing in the coastal areas of Australia then soon after made their way to Hawaii via seeds brought over from Australia. It grows vigorously as a vine and is able to stretch its branches across trellises, walls and the canopies of rainforest trees. Passion Fruit thrives in warm to hot climates that experience moderate rainfall and rare frost. Commercial production today comes out of India, New Zealand, the Caribbean, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Peru, Australia, Israel, Africa and in the United States from Florida and California.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Jake's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-2002 |
| Roy's La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-455-1616 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Passion Fruit. One
is easiest, three is harder.
