Passiflora edulis

Passion fruit, Maracujá
Ripe purple type from Australia and its cross section
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Passifloraceae
Genus:	Passiflora
Species:	P. edulis
Binomial name
Passiflora edulis Sims, 1818

Passiflora edulis is a vine species of passion flower that is native to Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina (Corrientes and Misiones provinces, among others). Its common names include passion fruit (UK and US), passionfruit (Australia and New Zealand), and purple granadilla (South Africa).

It is cultivated commercially in warmer, frost-free areas for its fruit and is widely grown in Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, the Caribbean, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Portugal (Madeira), Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, South Africa, United States (California and Florida), Venezuela and Philippines.

The passion fruit is round to oval, either yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous seeds. The fruit is both eaten and juiced; passion fruit juice is often added to other fruit juices to enhance the aroma.

Varieties

Several distinct varieties of passion fruit with clearly differing exterior appearances exist. The bright yellow flavicarpa variety, also known as the Golden Passion Fruit, can grow up to the size of a grapefruit, has a smooth, glossy, light and airy rind, and has been used as a rootstock for the Purple Passion Fruit in Australia. The dark purple edulis variety is smaller than a lemon, though it is less acidic than the yellow passion fruit, and has a richer aroma and flavour.

The purple varieties of the fruit have been found to contain traces of cyanogenic glycosides in the skin.

Uses

A Passion fruit vine

• In Australia and New Zealand, where it is called "passionfruit", it is available commercially both fresh and tinned. It is added to fruit salads, and fresh fruit pulp or passion fruit sauce is commonly used in desserts, including as a topping for pavlova (a regional meringue cake) and ice cream, a flavouring for cheesecake, and in the icing of vanilla slices. A passionfruit-flavoured soft drink called Passiona has also been manufactured in Australia since the 1920s.
• In Brazil passion fruit mousse is a common dessert, and passion fruit seeds are routinely used to decorate the tops of cakes. Passion fruit juice is also widely used. When making Caipirinha, it is usual to use passion fruit instead of lime; it is then called "caipifruta de maracujá". It is used also as a mild sedative, and its active ingredient is commercialized under several brands, most notably Maracugina.
• In Colombia it is one of the most important fruits, especially for juices and desserts. It is widely available all over the country and three kinds of "Maracuyá" fruit may be found.
• In the Dominican Republic, where it is locally called chinola, it is used to make juice and Fruit preserves. Passion fruit-flavoured syrup is used on shaved ice, and the fruit is also eaten raw, sprinkled with sugar.
• In Hawaii passion fruit is called lilikoi and comes in yellow and purple varieties.

Passion fruit can be cut in half and the seeds scooped out with a spoon. Lilikoi-flavoured syrup is a popular topping for shave ice. It is used as a desert flavouring for malasadas, cheesecakes, cookies, ice cream and mochi. Passion fruit is also favoured as a jam or jelly, as well as a butter. Most passion fruit comes from backyard gardens or is collected from the wild. While it may be found at farmers' markets throughout the islands, fruits are seldom sold in grocery stores.

• In Indonesia there are two types of passionfruit (local name: 'markisa'), white flesh and yellow flesh. The white one is normally eaten straight as a fruit, while the yellow variety is commonly strained to obtain its juice, which is cooked with sugar to make thick syrup. Bottles or plastic jugs of concentrated syrup (generally produced in Sumatra from fruit grown in the Lake Toba region) are sold in many supermarkets. Dilution of one part syrup to four (or more) parts water is recommended.

Wine, or 'sicar', made from passion fruit at a winery in Israel

Passion-fruit, (granadilla), purple, raw per 100 g

A purple passion fruit
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	406 kJ (97 kcal)
Carbohydrates	23.38 g
Sugars	11.2 g
Dietary fiber	10.4 g
Fat	0.7 g
Protein	2.2 g
Vitamins and minerals Vitamins Quantity %DV† Vitamin A equiv. beta-Carotene 7% 64 μg 7% 743 μg Riboflavin (B2) 10% 0.13 mg Niacin (B3) 9% 1.5 mg Vitamin B6 6% 0.1 mg Folate (B9) 4% 14 μg Choline 1% 7.6 mg Vitamin C 33% 30 mg Minerals Quantity %DV† Calcium 1% 12 mg Iron 9% 1.6 mg Magnesium 7% 29 mg Phosphorus 5% 68 mg Potassium 12% 348 mg Sodium 1% 28 mg Zinc 1% 0.1 mg
Link to USDA Database entry
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults, except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.

• In Israel passion fruit is used to make wine, or 'sicar'.
• In Mexico passion fruit is used to make juice or is eaten raw with chilli powder and lime.
• In Paraguay passion fruit is used principally for its juice, to prepare desserts such as passion fruit mousse, cheesecake, ice cream, and to flavour yogurts and cocktails.
• In Peru passion fruit is used in several desserts, especially cheesecakes. Passion fruit juice is also drunk on its own and is used in ceviche variations and in cocktails, including the Maracuyá Sour, a variation of the Pisco Sour.
• In the Philippines passion fruit is commonly sold in public markets and in public schools. Some vendors sell the fruit with a straw to enable sucking out of the seeds and juices inside. It is not very popular because of its sour flavour, and the fruit is very seasonal.
• In Portugal, especially the Azores and Madeira, passion fruit is used as a base for a variety of liqueurs and mousses.
• In Puerto Rico, where the fruit is known as "Parcha", it is widely believed to lower blood pressure, probably because it contains harmala alkaloids and is a mild RIMA. Passion fruit juice is also very common there and is used in juices, ice cream or pastries.

• In South Africa passion fruit, known locally as Granadilla (the yellow variety as Guavadilla), is used to flavour yogurt. It is also used to flavour soft drinks such as Schweppes' "Sparkling Granadilla" and numerous cordial drinks. It is often eaten raw or used as a topping for cakes and tarts. Granadilla juice is commonly available in restaurants. The yellow variety is used for juice processing, while the purple variety is sold in fresh-fruit markets.
• In Sri Lanka passion fruit juice, along with faluda, is one of the most popular refreshments. Passion fruit cordial is manufactured both at home as well as industrially by mixing the pulp with sugar. There are many cordial manufacturers, suppliers and exporters in the country.
• In Thailand passion fruit is called "Saowarot" (Thai: เสาวรส). The fruit is eaten whole and is also commonly juiced and drunk. Young shoots are cooked in curries or eaten with nam phrik.
• In the United States it is often used as an ingredient in juice mixes.
• In Vietnam passion fruit is blended with honey and ice to create refreshing smoothies.
• In Cambodia passion fruit is called "Machu Bey-darch" (ម្ចូរបីដាជ) and the plants wine are growing in wild and bushes with green to yellow round shape fruits measured from 2.5cm-4cm when ripe. It is a wild variety of passion fruit and taste slightly different but remains quite sour.
• In India Govt of Andhra Pradesh started growing in Chintapalli(Vizag) region forrests to make them available to the local people. However, it is found in the jungles of Assam, known to local people as "Lota Bel"

Nutrition

Fresh passion fruit contains provitamin A beta carotene, vitamin C (36%), dietary fiber (42%) and iron (12%) in significant quantities as percent of the Daily Value; the vitamin A content converted from provitamin A sources is 25%. Passion fruit juice is a good source of potassium, possibly making the fruit relevant as a nutrient source for lowering risk of high blood pressure. Preliminary research indicated that consuming passion fruit peel may affect asthma symptoms. One report showed that the fruit pericarp contains lycopene.

Culture

File:Passionfruit flower (Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic - January 2012).jpg

Passion fruit Flower - the national flower of Paraguay

The Passion fruit is so called because it is one of the many species of Passion Flower. ("Passion Flower" being the literal English translation of the Latin genus name, Passiflora). The name was given by Spanish missionaries to South America as an expository aid while trying to convert the indigenous inhabitants to Christianity.

The flower of the passion fruit is the national flower of Paraguay.

See also

• Giant granadilla
• Granadilla
• Maypop
• Sweet granadilla

Gallery

• 
  Three varieties of passion fruit
• 
  Cross-section of a purple passion fruit
• 
  Yellow maracuya harvested (P. edulis var. flavicarpa)
• 
  Purple passion fruits harvested
• 
  Size difference between yellow and purple passion fruits
• 
  Red, yellow, and green fruits lined up like a traffic light
• 
  Passion fruit on the vine
• 
  Flower of Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa

External links

• Purdue.edu, Fruits of Warm Climates: Passionfruit
• CRFG.org, California Rare Fruit Growers: Passion Fruit Fruit Facts
• DaleysFruit.com.au, Australian Passionfruit Varieties
• Phytochemicals.info, phytochemicals in Passion Fruit