Passion Fruit – That Tastes Like Summer

The passion fruit is characterized by a juicy pulp with a taste that ranges from sweet to sour. It is interspersed with numerous edible seeds. Often confused with passion fruit, the exotic fruit can be enjoyed in many ways.

Interesting facts about the passion fruit

The passion fruit plant, like the maracuja, belongs to the passion flower family – the fruits, more precisely berries, are often confused or the terms passion fruit and maracuja are used synonymously. In fact, they differ in appearance and taste. The passion fruit is smaller and has a brown-purple skin when ripe, while the larger maracuja is light green to yellow in colour. It is therefore also known as yellow grenadilla, its aroma is more acidic. For this reason, passion fruit is mainly processed into juices and is often found on the list of ingredients in multivitamin drinks. The passion fruit, on the other hand, with its milder taste, likes to end up on the plate as fresh fruit.

Purchasing and storage

Originally native to South America, the origins of passion fruit are more extensive today: the plant is cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics. When buying the fruit, which is available all year round, the skin can be a little wrinkled – this is a sign of full ripeness and a sweet aroma. Stored in the refrigerator, the healthy passion fruit can be kept for up to three weeks. If the skin is still smooth, you can let the fruit ripen at room temperature.

Cooking tips for passion fruit

You can eat the passion fruit like a kiwi by cutting it in half and scooping it out—including the pit, which is edible, unlike the skin. With its aromatic-sweet taste, the exotic fruit also enriches many dishes, such as fine baked goods such as our Solero cake. The pulp can also be mixed wonderfully into a smoothie, cocktail, or ice cream. Jams, preserves, jellies, dressings, fruit salads, and desserts are other possible uses. If necessary, the seeds can be easily removed by passing the pulp through a sieve. The purple grenadilla gives savory dishes an exotic touch: Try our veal cutlets with passion fruit risotto!