Only a few of the 400 varieties of passion fruit are edible, with Sweet,
Purple, and Giant being the most common.
The flesh of the passion fruit contains small black seeds that are suspended in flavorful
golden to greenish flesh. The plant’s name refers to the Passion or crucifixion of
Christ, and was bestowed by Spanish missionaries who thought parts of the flowers looked like
nails, a hammer, and a crown of thorns. The fruit’s original home is Brazil, but the
vine now grows throughout tropical regions such as New Zealand, Australia, Africa, Malaysia,
the West Indies, and in Southeast Asia. It has a sublimely sweet taste.
Varieties
Of the approximately 400 varieties of the passion fruit plant, only about 30 produce edible
fruit. These are mainly categorized as Sweet, Purple, and Giant. The types most commonly
available in supermarkets are the Sweet and Purple varieties, which are about the size of an
egg. The Giant Granadilla, 8 inches (about 20cm) in length, grows in tropical America, India,
and southeast Asia. The Sweet Granadilla can be found in Mexican mountain regions and in
Hawaii.
Buying and storing tips
Ripe fruit has a dimpled, somewhat brittle red-purple skin; choose fruit that feels firm
and heavy for its size. It keeps in the refrigerator for a week or so, though you can freeze
the pulp in an ice cube tray.
Availability
Because passion fruit is cultivated in many tropical regions, including Africa, New
Zealand, Malaysia, and the West Indies, it is usually available year-round. Canned passion
fruit nectar can be found in specialty markets.
Preparation, uses, and tips
Unripe passion fruit is too tart to eat. The riper the fruit, the better the sweet-tart
taste. It makes a delicious treat simply scooped out of its skin with a spoon. The seeds are
edible, although when using the fruit in recipes it is best to strain them out. The pulp of
this fruit, like vanilla extract or grenadine, can be used as a flavoring in baking or for
mixing cocktails.
Nutritional Highlights
Passion fruit (raw), 1 cup (236g)
Calories: 228
Protein: 5.2g
Carbohydrate: 55g
Total Fat: 1.6g
Fiber: 24.5g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin A (1,652 IU),
and Vitamin C (70.8mg)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular
nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good
source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily
Value.
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