Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis)

The passion fruit belongs to the vine species. It is also known as purple granadilla. Read all about this delicious fruit that is consumed throughout the world in edible and commercial ways.

Scientific Name

This fruit is scientifically known as Passiflora edulis.

Description

Here is a detailed description of the passion fruit along with its plants, flowers and leaves.

Fruit

Passion Fruit Plant Picture

Passion Fruit Plant

Shape: It is generally oval or round in shape. It has a hard and thick outer cover and soft flesh inside

Color: The outer skin of the fruit color ranges within purple, pumpkin color and yellow. The flesh inside is always lemon yellow colored.

Smell: It has a rich aroma.

Taste: The fruit has a musky, sweetish-tart and guava like taste.

Plant: The plant is a perennial and woody climber. It climbs with the help of the tendrils. The vines are shallow rooted.

Leaves: The leaves are evergreen and have fine teeth at both the sides. These are deeply 3-lobbed and alternate feature. Length of the leaves between 3 and 8 inches and are very glossy on the upper side but quite pale green colored underneath side.

Flower: A single flower is consisted of five, greenish white colored sepals. These flowers are fragrant.

Distribution

The purple variety of passion fruit bears its origin in southern parts of Brazil via Paraguay till northern parts of Argentina. It is also grown in Australia, Bolivia, Caribbean, Columbia, Costa Rica, East Africa, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Ecuador, Indonesia, India, Mexico, Israel, Peru, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Portugal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, United States and Philippines. The fruit and its many of its cultivars are now grown in various parts of the world as well as exported to the parts where it cannot be grown due to unfavorable climatic or soil condition.

Passion Fruit Flower Photo

Passion Fruit Flower

Nutrition Facts

Let us find out how much nutrition does every 100 gm of fresh passion fruit give our health.

 Nutrient  Amount  Percentage
Dietary fiber 10.40 g 27 %
Cholesterol 0 mg 0 %
Total fat 0.70 g 3 %
Protein 2.20 g 4 %
Carbohydrates 23.38 g 18 %
Energy 97 Kcal 5 %
Vitamin K 0.7 mg 0.5 %
Vitamin E 0.02 µg < 1 %
Vitamin C 30 mg 50 %
Vitamin A 1274 IU 43%
Thiamin 0.00 mg 0 %
Riboflavin 0.130 mg 10 %
Pyridoxine 0.100 mg 8 %
Niacin 1.500 mg 9 %
Folates 14 µg 3 %
Potassium 348 mg 7 %
Sodium 0 mg 0 %
Zinc 0.10 µg 1 %
Lycopene 0 µg
Crypto-xanthin-ß 41 µg
Carotene-ß 743 µg

Health Benefits

This nutritious fruit has numerous health benefits. Taste the yummy and juicy fruit without adding any unhealthy bit to your health.

  • It is a good source of anti-oxidants.
  • Being rich in dietary fibers this fruit helps reduce cholesterol level.
  • The high vitamin C content immunes body against common cold and flu like viruses.
  • The dietary fibers act as bulk laxative. This gives less exposure time of the colon mucous membrane to toxins and thus protects it.
  • It also protects against chemicals that cause cancer in the colons.
  • The fruit also develops resistance power in the body against proinflammatory free radicals.
  • High vitamin A content in it promotes and protects eye-sight.
Passion Fruit Picture

Passion Fruit

  • Regular consumption of this fruit keeps the mucus membranes healthy.
  • It has good effects on skin as well.
  • The vitamins and flavonoids contain in this fruit protects oral cavity and lungs from cancer.
  • Potassium content in passion fruit is helpful in regulating heart rate and controlling blood pressure level.
  • Phenolic profile of this fruit promotes anti-microbial activity.
  • This fruit works as a good pasteurizing agent.
  • The simple sugar and carbohydrate contents in this fruit make it a good choice for athletes.
  • The fruit might contain somniferous properties and thus relaxes the body as well as mind while eaten before bed time.
  • Due to the high soluble fiber content in it, this fruit is good to include in weight loss diet.

Seeds

The seeds are very nutritious for the health.

  • The seeds work as soluble fiber. Thus great for controlled diet.
  • The seeds improve metabolism.

Oil

Not much known about oral use of passion fruit oil. The oil is extracted from its seeds.

  • It is very good for muscle aches due to the sedative contents in it.
  • It is also beneficial to retain elasticity of the skin.
  • The oil works great to nourish hair and enhance the texture as well as increase the volume.

Allergies and Side Effects

Even being a very nutritious fruit still it might induce some side effects or allergy symptoms.

  • Some people might face some uncomfortable health conditions after consuming passion fruit or any of its extract products if they are extremely sensitized.
  • People who have a history of latex allergy symptom should strictly avoid this fruit.
  • Under normal circumstances also, one should not eat a large amount o this fruit as that can cause stomach upset.
  • Avoid consuming this fruit or any of its extract products if you are allergic to any of the nutrients content in the fruit.

Growing

One has to choose the variety of passion fruit vine they want to grow depending on the climate they live in. Tropical climate is suitable for the purple variety. For other climatic conditions, there are many more cultivars available.

In tropical climates, the vines should be provided with partial sun to grow well. In cooler climates, they would need full sun to mature.

The soil should be fertilized with both organic fertilizer and compost. The plantation zone should ideally receive more than 35 inches of annual rainfall.

Photos of Passion Fruit

Passion Fruit Photo

Variety

There are two main varieties of passion fruits, purple and yellow variety. Black knight, paul ecke, frederick, kahuna, purple giant and red rover are the cultivars that are grown under the purple variety. Brazilian golden, golden giant, Noel’s special, university round, university no. B-74 and yee are the cultivars that are yielded under the yellow variety of the fruit.

Extract

Cut the passion fruit into two halves. Scoop out the pulp with the seeds embedded in it. Pour the seedy pulp over a strainer and put a bowl under the strainer. Press the pulp with a flexible spatula in two way direction till al the pulp is squeezed through the strainer and only the seeds remain. This extract can be refrigerated and used in many dishes to add flavor of even consumed as fruit juice.

How to Eat

Get the passion fruit with wrinkled skin to make sure that it is ripe. Cut it with a sharp knife to avoid spluttering of the fruit while cutting. Scoop out the pulp with a spoon and if desired then separate the seeds out or one can eat the pulp with the tiny seeds itself.

Availability

The passion fruits are at their natural peak season during summer through the autumn. But it is commercially available in the market throughout the year.

Storage

Store the ripe passion fruits in a dry fruit basket and place it in a dark, cool place for 2-3 days maximum. It can also be refrigerated uptill a week.

Recipes

This fruit is one of the most popular fruits in the world and finds its place in snacking items as well as beverages.

  • It is used in baking pies and flavored cakes.
  • Passion fruit extracts are also used in wiped cream to add in pastries.
  • Its extracts are also used in twisting cocktails and mocktails.
  • Passion fruit juice is consumed as one of the most popular fruit juices, fresh and processed.
  • It is used in making mousse of the very same flavor as it is.
  • It is eaten raw as a fruit and in fruit salads.
  • The fruit also finds its place in cooking stews in some cultures, given its health beneficiary qualities.
  • It is also eaten as a fruit smoothie.
  • The fruit is squashed and made into flavored yoghurt.
  • It is widely used in fruit salsa to be taken with nachos and many other snacking items.
Passion Fruit Seeds Image

Passion Fruit Seeds

Uses

This extremely healthy and nutritious fruit is widely used on edible and medicinal grounds.

Edible Uses

This fruit is widely eaten all over the world.

  • Sweet desert and snacking items are made with the pulp of passion fruit.
  • Its juice is used in making alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Commercial Uses

  • Oil extracted from its seeds is widely used in exquisite beauty care products.
  • The vines have gardening value as well.

Medicinal Uses

  • Due to its immense medicinal value it extracts are used in making common cold syrups.
  • It also contains sedatives and hence is used in composition of many neurologic medicines.
  • The fruit is also consumed as a kitchen remedy aid for recovering from any ailment since it improves immunity.

Interesting Facts

The name of this fruit has a very interesting claim with it. The missionaries gave the name Passion Flower and then came the fruit. The stigmas of the flower symbolize the three nails on Jesus’s feet and hands. The whined tendrils symbolize the whips. The threads of the flower reflect the Crown of the Thorns. Five anthers of the flower represent his five wounds. The ten numbers of petals and sepals are regarded as the Apostles. The purple colored petals represent the purple robe that was used to ridicule Jesus.

It is the national flower of Paraguay.

Pictures

See the pictures of this extremely delicious and thoroughly nutritious fruit in here.

Images of Passion Fruit

Passion Fruit Image

Pictures of Passion Fruit

Passion Fruit Picture

References:

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/passionfruit.html#Toxicity

https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/passion-fruit.html

https://crfg.org/homepage/library/fruitfacts/passion-fruit/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/557286-can-you-be-allergic-to-passion-fruit/

https://www.gyanflavoursexport.com/product-page/passion-fruit-oil

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