Passion Fruit

The passionfruit is a vigorous, climbing vine that produces a unique, round or oval fruit. The outside (rind) is tough and wrinkly when ripe, while the inside is filled with an aromatic, jelly-like pulp and many small, crunchy, edible seeds. Its flavor is a complex, tropical blend of sweet and tart.

Common Dishes

Passionfruit is incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Its intense flavor is used in both sweet and savory dishes around the world. Beverages: Juices, smoothies, cocktails (like the classic Passionfruit Martini), and sodas. Desserts: The most famous use is in passionfruit cheesecake. It is also used for mousses, tarts, pavlovas, ice cream, and as a glaze for cakes. Sauces & Condiments: It can be reduced into a syrup for drizzling over pancakes or yogurt, or made into a vinaigrette for salads. It also pairs wonderfully with seafood, like a passionfruit glaze on grilled shrimp. Toppings: The pulp is often eaten straight from the fruit with a spoon or used as a topping for pavlova and other desserts.

Medicinal Purposes

Traditionally, various parts of the passionfruit plant have been used for medicinal purposes: Anxiety and Insomnia: The leaves and flowers of the passionflower vine (a close relative) are well-known for their calming and sedative properties, often brewed into a tea to relieve anxiety and promote sleep. Digestive Health: The fruit is rich in fiber, which aids in digestion and can help prevent constipation. Anti-inflammatory: Parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine to soothe discomfort from conditions like asthma and bronchitis.

Health Benefits

Passionfruit is a nutritional powerhouse, offering a wide range of health benefits: Rich in Antioxidants: Packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and other plant compounds that protect your cells from damage and reduce inflammation. Excellent Source of Fiber: The pulp and seeds are full of dietary fiber, which is great for digestive health, gut bacteria, and can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.Boosts Immunity: The high Vitamin C content helps your body produce white blood cells and fight off infections. Good for Heart Health: It contains potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure, and the fiber content supports cardiovascular health. Low Glycemic Index: Despite its sweetness, it doesn't cause a rapid spike in blood sugar, making it a good fruit choice for many people.

Two Ways to Apply Passionfruit

Child Application: Passionfruit "Sunshine" Popsicles. This is a fun, healthy, and delicious way for kids to enjoy the benefits of passionfruit. It’s a refreshing treat that feels like a dessert but is packed with vitamins and fiber.

How to Make It: Scoop the pulp from 4-5 passionfruits into a blender. Add one cup of plain or vanilla Greek yogurt and one ripe banana. Blend until smooth. (For a sweeter version, you can add a little honey or maple syrup). Pour the mixture into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 4-6 hours.Enjoy a tropical, sunshine-yellow popsicle full of protein, probiotics, and passionfruit power!

Adult Application: Passionfruit & Honey Exfoliating Face Mask The acids and antioxidants in passionfruit make it an excellent ingredient for a rejuvenating face mask. The natural alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) gently exfoliate dead skin cells, while the honey moisturizes and has antibacterial properties. How to Make It: Scoop the pulp from 1-2 passionfruits into a small bowl. Mix in one tablespoon of raw honey and one teaspoon of plain yogurt or oatmeal for a thicker consistency. After cleansing your face, apply the mixture evenly, avoiding the eye area. Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, pat your face dry, and follow with your favorite moisturizer. This mask will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth, and brightly hydrated.

Origins

Passion Fruit, also known in Portuguese and Spanish, respectively, as maracuja and maracuya, from the Tupi (indigenous people of Brazil) word mara kuya, meaning “the fruit that serves itself,” is indigenous to the subtropical regions of South America, specifically from southern Brazil through Paraguay and the northern part of Argentina. Passion fruit is a reddish, green fruit with an orangish, yellow pulpy interior coating its seeds. The fruit is edible; specifically, the seeds and their pulp are commonly eaten. They are generally squeezed for juice or used to make pastries (such as passion fruit mousse) and even ice cream. Passion fruit is known to have nutritionally valuable compounds such as vitamin C, dietary fiber, B vitamins, iron, and phosphorus. Passion fruit has also been found to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, hepatoprotective, and lung protectiveproperties, anti-diabetic, sedative, antidepressant, and anxiolytic-like properties. Passion fruit can even be used to treat cough, hoarseness, constipation, dysentery, insomnia, joint pain, and menstrual cramps. Some healthy uses of passion fruit for children include passion fruit juice and passion fruit smoothies, providing antioxidants, dietary fiber, B vitamins, and vitamin C, which would help boost metabolism, bolster immune support, and improve digestion. Some healthy uses of passion fruits for adults include soups, teas, and tablets for women, as it can help reduce the pain of menstrual cramps; in general, a passion fruit tea can help provide better digestive health, promoting bowel movement and supporting a healthy gut microbiome.

Sources:

He, X., Luan, F., Yang, Y., Wang, Z., Zhao, Z., Fang, J., Wang, M., Zuo, M., & Li, Y. (2020). Passiflora edulis: An Insight Into Current Researches on Phytochemistry and Pharmacology. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 617. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.00617

Prasertsri, P., Sinnitithavorn, K., Raroengjai, C., Phichayaworawit, R., Taweekarn, P., Vannajak, K., & Booranasuksakul, U. (2024). Immediate effects of passion fruit juice supplementation on working ability and attention in healthy participants. Current Research in Physiology, 7, 100120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crphys.2024.100120