Tropical and sub-tropical fruits are gaining popularity among people these days. Especially the health-conscious ones. Because these fruits are exotic is a reason. The main reason is the abundance of health benefits, and the low-calorie characteristics of the fruits are the highly notable points.
The list of exotic fruits and berries like dragon fruit, passion fruits, kiwi, lychee, and similar produce are trending in the marketplace for their decor, like looks, bold, and a mix of intense flavors in the taste, multi-purpose use, and nutrition.
Passion fruit is one of the exotic foods, giving that perfect balance of that sweet, sour, and tart taste in a blissful combination.
Here is everything to know about passion fruit.
What is a Passion Fruit?
A small oval-shaped tropical and sub-tropical fruit that is tasty and nutritious. The passion fruit is a vine that is cultivated all around the world for its nutrition and health gains. The fruit is available in numerous types based on color, size, and shape.
The fruit has a hard outer skin. The inside is filled with juicy pulps with black-centered seeds. The skin can be seen in various colors, whereas the flesh has a deep yellow to soft orange color.
The tropical and sub-tropical fruits have a perfect balance of sweet and sour taste in their products; passion fruit is no special. The fruit is said to be a blend of mild acidic and sweet.
Types of Passion Fruit
Various types of this fruit are based on color, shape, and size. The most common types to other types of passion fruits based on the availability, shape, and size are
- Purple-colored fruit – smaller and more fragrant fruits compared to the yellow ones.
- Yellow-colored fruit – also called golden passion fruit, is healthier than purple ones and can be used as fresh eatables, toppings, or incorporated in recipes.
- Giant passion fruit – can weigh up to four kilos and is mainly used for treatments for stomach and intestinal problems.
- Banana shaped and yellow color – the name from the shape and taste of the banana. This grows up to twelve centimeters long with thick leather-textured skin.
- Granadilla – this sub-type from the purple variety has an elongated shape and is lightweight. Granadilla tastes like a mix of fruity, sweet, and tang.
- Sweet passion fruit – is the most delicious of all. This is also claimed to turn from blue to orange with a white-colored pulp that is sweeter and more fragrant.
- Misty gem – the most common type of purple one in the market. This one is grown worldwide and has a fantastic balance of flavors.
- Maracuya – is the sub-type of yellow-colored passion fruit. The shape of the fruit is a large oblong with the taste of sweet and tang.
Growth Requirements
The passion fruit is from a family of vines with a south american native. The soil should be well-drained, sandy, and compost rich for the vine’s rapid growth.
The vines overgrow and can cover large fences. The vine can be grown outdoors and indoors. But ensure to shade them if the climate is too hot. A well-grown vine can grow to thirty feet tall.
The ideal temperature for the passion fruit to grow is 20 – 24 degrees, with frost-less winters and sunny weather. The main criteria is to keep the soil moist in the required amount.
How to Eat Passion Fruit?
The taste of the fruit is a perfect blend of sweet and sour. With the flavor that this passion fruit offers, this can be eaten in many, many ways.
- The fruit flesh can be eaten raw by cutting the fruit in half.
- Use the flesh of the fruit as a dessert topping.
- Make Sauces, juices, and smoothies using passion fruit.
- Mix the juice/flesh of the fruit with other delicates like mousse, sorbet, buttercream, jelly, jam, and more.
- Using it in cold servings such as ice creams and popsicles will have a perfect gourmet effect.
The rinds are not edible, but the seeds can be eaten, and enjoy the fruit however possible.
Nutrients of Passion Fruit
The sudden popularity of all the exotic fruits and berries is due to their health benefits and their taste. The passion fruit is no different. The fruit has nutrients, a low-calorie count, and a fantastic tropical taste.
Passion fruit is rich in vitamins c and a, antioxidants, and fiber. The calorie count of a single fruit is only seventeen. Within these seventeen calories, it has two grams of fiber, 9% of vitamin c, 8% of vitamin a, 2% iron, and 2% of potassium of the daily needed value.
Health Benefits
Everybody knows that vitamin c serum is for glowing skin. So, the antioxidants present in this
- It helps produce collagen, cartilage, and muscles and keeps the skin healthy and glowing,
- It provides cell protection from damage,
- Prevents and cures inflammations, and
- Even a good healthy diet for cancer patients in reducing colds
Vitamin a in passion fruit provides immunity, reproduction, and cell health and is a major booster for the eyes.
The fiber in passion fruit is an excellent fuller of the appetite. It also helps in
- Fight constipation
- Control diabetes and cholesterol
- Prevent heart disease, a few types of cancer, and more.
The other nutrients in this passion fruit also help in kidney health, heart health, and nerves.
Conclusion
Passion fruit is an exotic fruit with various shapes, sizes, and colors that have all the health a human body needs in its flesh, seeds, and peal combined with a mind-blowing flavor mix of sweet and sour tastes.
As one among the tropical fruits and delicacies for its looks, flavor mixes, and the abundance of health benefits the passion fruits offers, the cherry of this cake is that they are all deficient in calories.
This exotic fruit can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere however, one wants to. This can be eaten raw as a fruit, topping on a dessert, juices, smoothies, and more. As the name goes, anyone who tries this will develop a passion for this exotic fruit.
