Facts about Passion Fruit
The passion fruit tree is a strong, climbing vine that can grow 15-20 feet every year after established and need to have solid support. It is usually short-lived; only around 5-7 years. The passion fruit leaves are alternate, 3-lobed once mature and nicely toothed. They are 3-8 inches in length, dark green and shiny above, lighter and dull underside and, similar to the tendrils and stems, tinged with purple or red.
The flower of passion fruit is fragrant, about 2-3 inches in width. Clasped by 3 big, green, lifelike bracts, the flower contains 5 white petals and 5 greenish-white sepals. It also contains 5 stamens with big anthers.
The ovoid fruit, measured at 1.5-3 inches in width, has a hard skin that is waxy and smooth and varying in color from dark purple, white to light yellow. Inside passion fruit is a cavity containing fragrant membranous sacs filled with pulpy juice with around 250 small, black pitted seeds. Its taste is enticing, musky and sweet-sour.
Health Benefits of Eating Passion Fruit
- Scrumptious passion fruit is a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. 100 g fresh fruit contains around 97 calories.
- The passion fruit is high in fiber. 100 g fresh fruit pulp has approximately 10.4 g fiber. Substantial amount of fiber helps reduce cholesterol from your body. Additionally, insoluble fiber serving as bulk laxative protects your colon mucus membrane by minimizing exposure to toxin in the colon and binding to cancerous chemical substances in your colon.
- The passion fruit contains vitamin C; offers around 30 mg in every 100 g. Ascorbic acid is a strong water soluble antioxidant. Intake of fruits full of ascorbic acid helps your body fight against flu and scavenge damaging free radicals.
- The fruit contains excellent amounts of vitamin A (offers about 1275 IU in every 100 g), as well as flavonoid antioxidants like beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin-beta. Recent scientific studies claim that both compounds together with vitamin A are important for good eyesight.
- Vitamin A is equally needed to build healthy skin and mucus membrane. Eating of organic fruits abundant with flavanoids and vitamin A helps prevent oral cavity and lung cancers.
- Fresh granadillas (purple passion fruit) have a good deal of potassium. Every 100 g fresh fruit pulp contains around 348 mg. Potassium is an essential element of our body that helps regulate heartbeat as well as blood pressure level.
- In addition, granadillas are very high in minerals. Phosphorus, copper, iron and magnesium can be found sufficiently in the passion fruit.
How to Choose and Buy Passion Fruit?
- The passion fruit can be found all year long in the supermarkets in the US. In other regions around the world their supply is periodic and varies.
- Purchase fruit that is ripen, plump and heavy in the stores. The passion fruit with crease skin is in fact tastier and higher in sugar.
- Refrain from over-matured fruit. Spots and minor cuts are normal on the passion fruit. These kinds of modest abrasions on the surfaces normally do not affect the grade of the fruit.
How to Store Passion Fruit?
- At home, store the passion fruit in the basket and put in cool dark place in which they keep for 1-2 days. Ripe passion fruit can be stored in the fridge for approximately 1 week.
- In addition, passion fruit freeze perfectly. Simply spoon the fruit pulp into a small bowl. Put in a bit of sugar and freeze.
Related Fruit Articles:
|