Passionfruit

February - September

The majority of our passionfruit is the standard 'purple' passionfruit most of us know and love, however we're really excited to be growing some other interesting species that are not as easy to come by in NZ. We hope to be able to share some of the following with you as our supply increases:

• Gold/Yellow (passiflora edulis v flavicarpa): Similar in size to the purple passionfruit, gold passionfruit are sweeter with less of the acidic tang characteristic of purple passionfruit. The fruit is often harvested green (though perfectly ripe), and turns more gold as it ripens off the vine. We have a couple of different types of gold passionfruit growing, each with their own features.
• Red (passiflora edulis v flavicarpa): Extra large, shiny red-skinned passionfruit that is normally sweeter and less acidic than the purple variety, however in NZ it ripens during the winter with lower sunlight hours and doesn't sweeten up as much as it would in other climates. Each fruit typically weighs 200g or more! 
• Sweet Granadilla (passiflora ligularis): Round, orange-skinned passionfruit with a firm skin that does not wrinkle. Mild, fruit salad like flavour with a hint of rockmelon. 
• Vanilla (passiflora antioquiensis): Long, green/yellow coloured fruit containing a clear pulp. This fruit has a tropical, vanilla fruit-salad type flavour. Note that while the fruit looks similar to the banana passionfruit, it is not the same!! 
• Fragrant Granadilla (passiflora alata): Extra large, yellow-orange fruit with a slight pear shape and yellow/orange pulp. The 'Fragrant' part of the name refers to the intense fragrance from the flower. We have two different un-named varieties that produce slightly different flavoured fruit. Both are sweet, with mango and rockmelon flavours, definitely tropical, although the taste is hard to describe. One of our varieties has lighter coloured pulp and a very interesting after-taste, while the other is just super sweet with darker coloured pulp.
• Giant Granadilla (passiflora quadrangularis): Extra large and delicious, with an edible rind. Most of the plants we've sourced in NZ are actually hybrids with the Fragrant Granadilla, however we're now growing some Giant Granadilla sourced from PNG!
• Poro Poro (passiflora pinnatistipula): Another new species for us, this vine bears a round, yellow fruit.
• Stinking Passionflower / Love-in-a-mist / Running Pop (passiflora foetida): A fine featured passionfruit with delicate white flowers and hairy bracts that protect the growing fruit by trapping insects. Produces lots of tiny, sweet and delicious fruit from very early on in its growth.
• Red Passionflower (passiflora manicata): Insanely vigorous, with an abundance of beautiful red flowers for much of the year. The fruit is edible, though quite sour.
• Kohia (passiflora tetrandra): A NZ native passionfruit! Vines are dioecious, meaning you need one with male flowers and another with female flowers to be able to set fruit. The fruit is very small, orange and edible (but not tasty). A beautiful, vigorous vine with small and delicate flowers.

Most passionfruit is best eaten after the skin has wrinkled. It may not look its best, but that is when passionfruit is at its sweetest! Cut in half and scoop out the pulp with a spoon to enjoy a delicious tropical treat. Passionfruit is fabulous over fruit salad, muesli, yoghurt or ice cream. Add it to smoothies or baking, or try your hand at some delicious passionfruit condiments.

Passionfruit are high in vitamin C and A, as well as being rich in fibre and antioxidants. Their magnesium content is reported to have a calming effect, helping with both sleep and anxiety.

If left out at room temperature to ripen, passionfruit will wrinkle and sweeten up within a few days (in summer - in winter it might take a week or two). Passionfruit store well for a few weeks in the fridge, just get them out a few days before you want to eat them. You can freeze them whole, or scoop out the pulp and freeze it in ice cube trays or small packs ready for when you need it.