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BASIC INFO

AKA: passiflora · apricot vine · grenadilla · maracuja · maracuya

Countries of origin: Brazil · Paraguay · Argentina

Plant of origin: Passiflora edulis

History: The name Flor de las cinco llagas or “flower of the five wounds” was given by 16th-century Catholic Spanish missionaries when they visited South America. The passion flower was seen as a symbol of Christ’s crown of thorns, the five stamens for his wounds, and the five petals and five sepals as the ten apostles. While it no longer bears religious significance, passion fruit is a now an important commercial crop in Australia, South Africa, and Southern Asia.

Varieties: Golden Passion Fruit · Dark Passion Fruit 

In Season: year round · peak from December to July

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HEALTH INFO

Nutritional Value: Vitamin A · Vitamin C · fiber · potassium

Health Benefits: regulates blood pressure · helps the body develop resistance against flu-like agents

Replaces: other tropical fruit

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WHERE TO BUY

Where: an Asian market or your grocery store’s produce section; near other exotic fruit.

BUY this: fruits that are large, heavy, and a little soft with some wrinkled skin

AVOID this: fruits that are small, squishy, and very wrinkled (look like large raisins)

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HOW TO STORE

If the passion fruit are firm and unripe, let them sit at room temperature until they start to shrivel up and soften. Once they’re ripe, place them in the fridge for up to 1 week.

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FUN FACTS

• Passion fruit is botanically classified as a berry.

• Studies have shown that passion fruit juice has a slight sedative effect. Both the juice and flowers of the plant have been used to treat anxiety and high blood pressure.

• Further studies have shown that passion fruit peel extract relieves symptoms of asthma and osteoarthritis.

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RECIPES

Passion Fruit-Mint Iced Tea

Passion Fruit Crumble

Passion Fruit Muffins 

Chicken Breast with Passionfruit Sauce