Passionfruit, Health Benefits, And Delicious Recipes!

Passionfruit, Health Benefits & Recipes:

What Is Passionfruit:

Common Names:

Passionfruit, Granadilla, Purple Granadilla, Yellow Passionfruit

Origin:

The purple passion fruit is native from southern Brazil through Paraguay to northern Argentina. It has been stated that the yellow form is of unknown origin, or perhaps native to the Amazon region of Brazil, or is a hybrid between P. edulis and P. ligularia. Cytological studies have not borne out the hybrid theory.

In Australia,

the purple passion fruit was flourishing and partially naturalized in coastal areas of Queensland before 1900. In Hawaii, seeds of the purple passion fruit, brought from Australia, were first planted in 1880 and the vine came to be popular in home gardens. passionfruit

The fruit is valued for its pronounced flavor and aroma which helps not only in producing a high-quality squash but also in flavoring several other products. The juice of passion fruit with an excellent flavor is quite delicious, nutritious, and liked for its blending quality.

To enhance the flavor of the final product, passion fruit juice is often mixed with juices of pineapple, mango, ginger, etc. The juice is extensively used in confectionery and preparation of cakes, pies, and ice cream. It is a rich source of Vitamin A and contains fair amounts of Sodium, Magnesium, Sulphur, and Chlorides. passion

Description of Passionfruit:

1. Growth Habit:

 

• The passionfruit is a vigorous, climbing vine that clings by tendrils to almost any support.
• It can grow 15 to 20 ft.
• per year once established and must have strong support.
• It is generally short-lived (5 to years).

2. Foliage Of Passionfruit:

• The evergreen leaves of passion fruit are alternate, deeply 3-lobed when mature, and finely toothed.
• They are two inches long, deep green and glossy above, paler and dull beneath and, like the young stems and tendrils, tinged with red or purple, especially in the yellow form.

Flowers Of Passionfruit:

• A single, fragrant flower, two inches wide, is born at each node on the new growth.
• The bloom, clasped by 3 large, green, lifelike bracts, consists of greenish-white sepals, white petals, and fringelike corona of straight, white-tipped rays, rich purple at the base.
• It also has stamens with large anthers, the ovary and triple-branched style forming prominent central structure.
• Purple passion fruit is self-fruitful, but pollination is best under humid conditions.
• The flowers of the yellow form are perfect but self-sterile.
• Carpenter bees are the most efficient pollinator, much more so than honey bees.
• The wind is ineffective because of the heaviness and stickiness of the pollen.
• The flowers can also be hand pollinated. passion

4. Fruit:

• The nearly round or ovoid fruit, 1-1/2 to 3 inches wide, has a tough rind that is smooth and waxy and ranging in hue from dark purple with faint, fine white specks, to light yellow or pumpkin-color.
• Within is a cavity more or less filled with an aromatic mass of double-walled, membranous sacs containing orange-colored, pulpy juice and as many as 250 small, hard, dark brown or black, pitted seeds.
• The unique flavor is appealing, musky, guava-like, and sweet/tart to tart.
• The yellow form has generally larger fruit than the purple, but the pulp of the purple is less acid, richer in aroma and flavor, and has a higher proportion of juice (35-38%).
• Numerous hybrids have been made between purple and the yellow passion fruit, often yielding colors and other characteristic intermediates between the two forms.
• The vine, especially the yellow form, is fast-growing and will begin to bear in 1 to 3 years.
• Ripening occurs 70 to 80 days after pollination.

5. Soil Of Passionfruit:

• Passionfruit vines are grown on many soil types but light to heavy sandy loams, of medium texture is most suitable, and pH should be from 6.5 to 7.5. If the soil is too acidic, lime must be applied.
• Good drainage is essential to minimize the incidence of collar rot.

6. Fertilization Of Passionfruit:

• Fertilizer (10-5-20 NPK) should be applied at the rate of 1.36 kg per plant 4 times a year.
• Passionfruit vines should always be watched for deficiencies, particularly in potassium and calcium, and of less importance, magnesium.

7. Propagation Of Passionfruit:

• Propagation Seeds planted soon after removal from the fruit will germinate in 10 to 20 days.
• The fresher the seed the better.

8. Harvest Of Passionfruit:

• The fruit will quickly turn from green to deep purple (or yellow) when ripe and then fall to the ground within a few days.
• They can either be picked when they change color or gathered from the ground each day.
• The fruit is sweetest when slightly shriveled.
• Both the fruit and the juice freeze well.

9. Nutritional Value Of Passionfruit:

• Fresh passionfruit is high in beta-carotene, potassium, and dietary fiber.
• Passion fruit juice is a good source of vitamins A, C, and other antioxidants.
• Good for people who have high blood pressure and helps with insomnia.
• Some research is showing that purple passion fruit peel may help with controlling asthma symptoms.
• The fruit contains Lycopene in the mature and immature pericarp.
•  The percentages of many of the vitamins and minerals are shockingly high, and passion fruit is a great addition to the diet that can result in a number of amazing health benefits. Let’s explore some of those benefits in greater detail below.

Here’s 16 Health Benefits of Passionfruit:

• Passion fruit is a powerful source to enhance anti-carcinogenic activity in the body.
• The juice of passion fruit reduces cancer cell growth. Though research is underway on this issue, the phytochemicals in the fruit juice are considered to inhibit cancer cell growth.
• The phenolic acids and flavonoids present in the fruit are supposed to possess heart-protecting function.
• The phenolic profile of the fruit is known for its antimicrobial activity.
• Passion fruit is a good source of antioxidants, both water-soluble and fat-soluble ones.
• Passion fruit is considered good for products that require pasteurization.
• The fruit is quite high in carbohydrates and simple sugars, which improves athletic performance.
• It contains plant sterols, which help in lowering the levels of cholesterol.
• Passion fruit is a reservoir of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Potassium.
• Fiber Make It Highly Beneficial For Digestion, The seeds of the fruit are very vital sources of fiber.
• It is supposed to possess somniferous properties, which when taken before going to bed, help the person to relax and have a restful sleep.
• It is very good for attaining optimum health and to reduce weight.
• Passion fruit juice has a calming effect on the nervous and hence is beneficial for insomnia patients. A glass of passion fruit juice before going to bed can facilitate peaceful sleep.
• It contains vitamin C which helps in blocking histamine that causes asthma symptoms.
• Vitamin C is an antioxidant that provides protection against free radical damage, thus preventing premature aging and keeping your immune system strong.
•  Passion Fruit rich in potassium means healthy fruit for those with blood pressure problems because potassium is good for blood regulation. Sodium is the main reason why blood pressure level becomes hard to control.

How To Make Passionfruit Juice?

Making your own passion fruit juice requires a bit of effort, but it is the best way to get perfectly ripe and natural passion fruit juice, provided you have a blender and some sugar!

Passionfruit Juice Recipes:

Ingredients:

• 6 passion fruits, ripe.
• 1 teaspoon of sugar.
• 5 cups of water, filtered. passion

 

Directions: 

• Cut each passion fruit in half and scoop out the seeds into a blender.
• Add about 3 cups of water to the blender.
• Gently blend the fruit and seeds, which will cause the seeds to separate. Blend at a low level so you don’t break the seeds open.
• Pour this blend through a filter or sieve to remove the seeds.
• Add another 2 cups of water and the sugar and stir thoroughly.
• Refrigerate the mixture and serve chilled. 

Mango Passionfruit Jelly:

Ingredients:

• 250ml water.
• 100g castor sugar.
• 10g jelly powder.
• 100ml evaporated milk.
• 1 tbsp custard powder.
• Pinch of salt.
• 400g ripe mango puree.
• 2 passion fruits, use the pulp, and keep the juice.

 

Directions:

• Strain mango puree through a sieve to remove excess pulp.
• Combine sugar, water, and jelly powder in a small saucepan.
• Stir and cook over medium-low heat to a simmering boil.
• Mix custard powder with evaporated milk and salt. Stir to dissolve and pour into the agar-agar mixture.
• Add mango puree and continue to simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously, then mix in the passion fruit juice.
• Spoon a little passion fruit pulp into individual jelly molds.
• Pour jelly mixture over, then leave aside to cool and set.
• Refrigerate or chill for at least 3-4 hours before serving.

Side Effects of Eating Too Much Passionfruit:

There are very few known side effects of passion fruit juice, but these can affect blood sugar levels and weight gain.

• Eating too much passion fruit may cause drowsiness.
• It may also enhance the effects of anticoagulants which help to dilute the blood.
• For people who have heart palpitation, you should not eat passion fruits.
• Arrhythmia and muscle contraction exception is some serious side effects of passion fruit.
• The abnormal heart rhythm will increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.
• Also, there is a significant amount of sugar in passion fruit juice, which can be a problem for people suffering from diabetes.

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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment for any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”

 

Eat Healthily. Live Healthily!

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