Passion Fruit: Origins, Benefits, and How to Enjoy It

The passion fruit, also known as passion fruit or passion fruit, is perfect for regaining strength on days of exhaustion or very hot.

What is passion fruit?

The passion fruit, or the Passion fruit, is a fruit of the sweets group. In addition to being sweet with a somewhat acidic taste, it is very refreshing.

Where does passion fruit come from?

It is the fruit of the passionflower (Passiflora edulis), a climbing plant that belongs to the genus of passiflora.

This plant (Passiflora edulis) was used in traditional medicine as an anxiolytic and sedative by infusing its leaves and flower.

Also, the pharmaceutical company currently uses it to manufacture different extracts and tablets that relieve minor anxiety disorders and facilitate sleep. In addition, its richness in polyphenols also makes it an excellent antioxidant, among other health benefits.

Two types of varieties are grown:

• A purple-violet colour, shaped like an Edulis, native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.
• Another yellow one is shaped like Flavicarpa Degener, probably native to the Brazilian Amazon rainforest.

Both types of this fruit need moisture in soil rich in nutrients.

The passionflower (Passiflora edulis) is native to the tropical zone of the American continent, like the dragon fruit, mainly from Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. However, it is cultivated in other tropics and subtropical regions, such as India, New Zealand, the Caribbean, California, and East Africa.

Why do they call it passion fruit?

The passion fruit gets its name from the passion flower, which belongs to the Passiflora genus in Latin. This fruit can be spelled as “passion fruit,” “passionfruit,” or “passion fruit.”

Many people associate it with the livid or with topics related to sex. Nothing could be further from the truth since this plant’s shape explains why passion fruit is known today as passion fruit.

When we Spaniards arrived in the new world and saw this fruit for the first time, they associated it with the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ.

Moreover, they also found similarities in the shape of the flower itself, where they claimed to find the elements that were used in the crucifixion of Jesus (the cross, the nails, and the hammer). It is possible that they were stunned by the trip because, seeing this flower, there are doubts about the cross.

Finally, and in case you haven’t had enough of the above, the purple-violet colour of one of its varieties resembles the purple colour typical of Holy Week.

For all that was explained, it ended up being called passion fruit.

How do you eat passion fruit?

It is a fruit that we do not usually see in our markets but that, in addition to having a delightful taste, refreshes, hydrates, and provides many health benefits.

Like most fruits, passion fruit is only eaten with the pulp extracted from the inside. It can be eaten directly with the mouth or with a teaspoon.

As I always recommend, fruits are best eaten raw and fresh, and the case of passion fruit or passion fruit will not be an exception.

It is also used as a syrup to prepare delicious dessert recipes and to make fantastic refreshing drinks, juices, ice cream, and smoothies, with the fruit alone or combined with other fruits and vegetables.

The juice from this food can also be used as a dressing to make different recipes, just as we can use lemon or vinegar.

How to prepare passion fruit juice?

As I have explained, there are several ways to make juices of this food, but I will present a way to make passion fruit juice fundamentally and straightforwardly.

The ingredients to make the juice are:

• Passion fruit
• Water
• Sugar or another sweetener (optional)
• Ice (optional but ideal for hot weather)

The fruit is washed well, the pulp extracted from its interior is passed through the blender, and water is added. As it has seeds, it can be uncomfortable and can be strained using a filter. I like that the juice contains sources that are richer in fibre.

After this process, sugar or another sweetener can be added to the juice, although I wouldn’t say I like adding anything.

After making it, you can add ice or mix it with other fruit or vegetable juices, as we have already explained.

Passion fruit season

In Spain, it is produced in Andalusia and the Canary Islands regions. The season yellow and purple varieties bloom and bear fruit practically all year round. However, Passion fruit can be enjoyed throughout the year, but its peak seasons are from February to June and August to November.

You can check the calendar of the fruit season to be able to consume these foods at their most optimal moment. In addition, when they are in season, they provide us with more benefits for our health. They have a better aroma and are tastier, among other advantages.

Passion fruit properties

Passion fruit is characterized by its high amount of water, its main component. In other words, it is a perfect moisturizer, like most tropical fruits.

In addition, it contains a high proportion of carbohydrates, which is why it is considered a caloric fruit. Therefore, it is a perfect natural energy recuperator.

It is also a source of provitamin A that is more abundant in the yellow than in the purple variety.

It is also rich in other vitamins, as I have already mentioned, such as vitamin C, and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Average nutritional information per 100 grams of passion fruit

% of the recommended daily amount for adults.

Source: Purple passion fruit, raw in the USDA Nutrient Database.

Passion fruit benefits

I have already explained that these fruits have many nutrients beneficial to health, such as vitamins and minerals that make this fruit a powerful antioxidant.

Facilitates digestion

In addition to vitamins and minerals, it is a fruit that is rich in fibre. It provides natural fibre to our body that facilitates digestion.

Intestinal regulator

It provides us with fibre that gives us the seeds contained in the pulp. Therefore, it helps us with the correct regulation of intestinal transit.

In addition to preventing constipation, thanks to the fibre it provides, it helps reduce blood cholesterol levels. It also helps control blood glucose (blood sugar levels) in people with diabetes.

Ideal for weight loss diets

Thanks to the number of carbohydrates and fibre, it exerts a satiating effect. In addition, thanks to these properties, it is ideal for people who follow a diet to lose weight.

Powerful antioxidant

Thanks to its contribution of vitamins to our body, it becomes a powerful antioxidant that helps us delay the symptoms of aging.

Natural restorative

Thanks to the contribution of carbohydrates, minerals, and proteins, it favours strengthening our natural defences. In addition, it helps us to recover energy quickly thanks to its properties.

To finish, we recommend that you try this fabulous fruit; therefore, you take advantage of all its properties and enjoy its characteristic flavour that will surprise you.