Passionfruit
Availability
February - September
Varieties
The majority of our passionfruit is the standard 'purple' passionfruit most of us know and love, however we're really excited to start offering some other interesting varieties that are not easy to come by in NZ:
- Panama Red (passiflora edulis v flavicarpa): Extra large, shiny red-skinned passionfruit that is sweeter and less acidic than the purple variety. Each fruit typically weighs 200g or more! Available May - July.
- Sweet Granadilla (passiflora ligularis): Round, orange-skinned passionfruit with a firm skin that does not wrinkle. Mild, fruit salad like flavour. Coming soon in 2022!
- 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!! Coming soon in 2022!
- Fragrant Granadilla (passiflora alata): Under propagation, expected first crop in 2023.
- Giant Granadilla (passiflora quadrangularis): Under propagation, expected first crop in 2023.
Eating
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.
Nutrition
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.
Storage
If left out at room temperature to ripen, passionfruit will wrinkle and sweeten up within a few days (in summer - it might take a week or two in winter). 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.