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Passion Fruit

Only a few of the 400 varieties of passion fruit are edible, with Sweet, Purple, and Giant being the most common.

The flesh of the passion fruit contains small black seeds that are suspended in flavorful golden to greenish flesh. The plant’s name refers to the Passion or crucifixion of Christ, and was bestowed by Spanish missionaries who thought parts of the flowers looked like nails, a hammer, and a crown of thorns. The fruit’s original home is Brazil, but the vine now grows throughout tropical regions such as New Zealand, Australia, Africa, Malaysia, the West Indies, and in Southeast Asia. It has a sublimely sweet taste.

Varieties

Of the approximately 400 varieties of the passion fruit plant, only about 30 produce edible fruit. These are mainly categorized as Sweet, Purple, and Giant. The types most commonly available in supermarkets are the Sweet and Purple varieties, which are about the size of an egg. The Giant Granadilla, 8 inches (about 20cm) in length, grows in tropical America, India, and southeast Asia. The Sweet Granadilla can be found in Mexican mountain regions and in Hawaii.

Buying and storing tips

Ripe fruit has a dimpled, somewhat brittle red-purple skin; choose fruit that feels firm and heavy for its size. It keeps in the refrigerator for a week or so, though you can freeze the pulp in an ice cube tray.

Availability

Because passion fruit is cultivated in many tropical regions, including Africa, New Zealand, Malaysia, and the West Indies, it is usually available year-round. Canned passion fruit nectar can be found in specialty markets.

Preparation, uses, and tips

Unripe passion fruit is too tart to eat. The riper the fruit, the better the sweet-tart taste. It makes a delicious treat simply scooped out of its skin with a spoon. The seeds are edible, although when using the fruit in recipes it is best to strain them out. The pulp of this fruit, like vanilla extract or grenadine, can be used as a flavoring in baking or for mixing cocktails.

Nutritional Highlights

Passion fruit (raw), 1 cup (236g)
Calories: 228
Protein: 5.2g
Carbohydrate: 55g
Total Fat: 1.6g
Fiber: 24.5g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin A (1,652 IU), and Vitamin C (70.8mg)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines.

Health benefits and concerns

Health benefits and concerns for fruit
Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other fruit. Read about health benefits and concerns for fruit for a full description.