Passion Fruit Names

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Passion Fruit Names: What Do People in Other Countries and Cultures Call Passion Fruit?

Over 500 Passiflora species worldwide, of which P. edulis Sims has been exclusively designated as passionfruit. This excellent fruit will, however, come into two different yet easily recognizable types: the purple passion fruit and the yellow one.

Passion Purple Passiflora Edulis Fruit Plant Seeds 2

The purple passion fruit has its origins in Brazil, from which it spread to Argentina by crossing Paraguay. The origins of the yellow passionfruit are not so established, but we know that both these types of passionfruit are well appreciated in the countries they are primarily found in.

Significant differences set them apart: the purple passionfruit pulp holds less acidity than the yellow one. As a result, it has a richer flavor and aroma and a more significant proportion of juice. Having said this, you can expect the yellow passionflower fruit to be larger than the purple one and to grow on a more vigorous vine.

The Symbolism of the Passionfruit

This unique fruit also comes with exciting symbolism attached to it due to the appearance of its flower. 16th-century Catholic missionaries in Brazil found the passion fruit’s flower symbolic of Christ’s crucifixion, otherwise known in biblical history as the Passion of the Christ. The center’s flower has spikes protruding from the center, a visual semblance to the crown of thorns worn by Christ. The ten petals symbolize the ten apostles, while the three stigmata symbolize the three nails.

Passion Fruit Names Around the World

Passion Fruit has many names around the world. Below is just a sampling of some of the names that Passion Fruit has worldwide. If you know of an additional name, please don’t hesitate to contact us or leave a comment below.

mburucuyá – Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay
maracujá – Brazil and Portugal
maracuyá (yellow variety) or gulupa (purple variety) – Columbia
maracuyá – Bolivia, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Mexico, Honduras, and Peru
chinola – Dominican Republic
lilikoi – Hawaii
markisa – Indonesia
sweet cup – Jamaica
calala – Nicaragua (a sweet-tasting juice is made when the fruit is cut in half and boiled in water)
parcha – Puerto Rico
granadilla (purple variety)or granadilla (yellow variety) – South Africa
parchita – Venezuela

Passionfruit in Various Countries Across the Globe

Since passionfruit originated in Brazil, it comes as no surprise knowing this country has a long-standing passionfruit industry with well-developed plants meant to extract the juice from these delicious fruits. In Brazil, passionfruit is mostly preferred fresh, but it’s also an essential ingredient in juices, mousses, sauces, and a wide variety of desserts.

If you visit Brazil, you can get one of their popular vitamin drinks, the equivalent of smoothies. However, when introducing passionfruit in the mix with the milk, you will get a natural tranquilizer with antispasmodic and sedative action that may even induce better sleep quality.

In Australia, the purple passionfruit saw natural flourishing before the 1900s on the coasts of Queensland. It was typically planted on abandoned banana plantations and gradually gained great popularity. However, in 1943 a wilt invasion damaged the vines and forced people to find substitutes that showed higher resistance to fungus. In Australia, passionfruit is subjected to a condition called ‘woodiness’ that makes growing this fruit a bit tricky. Even so, growers have maintained their ground and kept finding solutions to keep this fruit locally grown and harvested for the population to enjoy readily. To this end, Australians are more inclined to prefer the purple passion fruit to the yellow one.

These challenges have surfaced for growers in New Zealand as well, almost destroying an industry built early in the 1930s – a thriving industry, albeit small. However, nowadays, growers have managed to stave off destructive infestations and export fruits and juice. New Guinea also currently runs a profitable industry of purple passionfruit.

Passionfruit has also become widely popular in Hawaii, known as lilikoi, where planting started in the 1880s with seeds from Australia. In Hawaii, the yellow strands are the more popular ones, and you can find this fruit widely and creatively used as ingredients in zesty cocktails, delicious desserts, and stunning ice creams.

Israel was also one of the countries that benefited from the passionfruit brought over from Australia. It was introduced there in the early 20th century, and now you can find it growing in home gardens across the coastal plain. Small quantities are also being sent to processing factories.

Kenya and Uganda also saw a thriving passionfruit commercial culture. In Kenya, it began in 1933 and expanded in 1960 when commercialization began in Uganda. However, both countries struggled to maintain the health of their crops due to infestation and damaging pests. This led to planting passionfruit in smaller areas for better and more efficient crop control. Unfortunately, the passionfruit plant does not hold much strength in the face of easily-spreadable diseases.

India has also seen a moderate passionfruit industry since the vine ran wild in many areas. Some decades ago, the yellow passionfruit was also introduced to India from Ceylon, and the plantations quickly spread in low-elevated areas such as Kerala and Madras. Within a year, the plantations began yielding heavy and regular crops.

Passion Purple Passiflora Edulis Fruit Plant Seeds inside seeds 2

In 1947 South Africa produced around 2,000 tons for domestic use. Unfortunately, the numbers only doubled in three years starting that date. Nevertheless, they continued growing until now; luckily, the passionfruit plant did not meet any of the regular setbacks stemming from infestations and pests.

By 1913 the purple passionfruit also found a home in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. The Jamaica passionfruit is a powerhouse of antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients: potassium, fiber, phosphorus, calcium, protein, and vitamin A. Some other parts of the fruit are also used for medicinal purposes to prevent and treat a variety of afflictions and conditions.

How Do You Choose Passionfruit?

Passionfruit is not a fruit you consume as quickly as an apple, but it is simple too. To enjoy the fruit in all its splendor, you need to find one ripe. A ripe passionfruit will often feel heavy in your hand, while the skin can be smooth or wrinkly. However, wrinkles are typically a clear indicator that the fruit is ripe and ready to eat.

As with any other fruits, make sure there are no spots; there is no discoloration or bruising on the skin of the passionfruit. Before consuming the passionfruit, wash it thoroughly to remove any bacteria or pesticide residue.

Passiflora edulis passion fruit cut up sliced Mahekal Beach Resort Playa del Carmen Fruit Photos IMG_0779

You can then take a spoon, scoop out the content, or eat the pulp straight from the fruit. Finally, you can add cream or a sweetener and enjoy the deliciousness this fruit naturally offers. You can also eat the seeds if you want, but they’re a bit tart.

How Can You Use Passionfruit?

Passionfruit is such a versatile and delicious fruit that people across the globe found myriad ways to incorporate it into their daily eating habits and occasional treats.

If you have a sweet tooth and like preparing baked goods, know that you can easily add passionfruit to panna cottas, cakes, puddings, soufflés, curds, trifles, eclairs, and roulades. The list is endless; you only need a bit of creativity and willingness to prepare your goods since passionfruit blends in with just about anything.

Passionfruit does not disappoint when it comes to drinks, either. Besides smoothies, lemonades, and teas, passionfruit is also a great ingredient in cocktails worldwide. Depending on where you are located or where you travel, you can go to the bar and ask for a wide variety of cocktails that can include passionfruit: passionfruit coladas, passionfruit martinis, passionfruit mojitos, mimosas, caipirinhas, and so on.

Passion Fruit Purple Passiflora Edulis Fruit Plant Seeds Garden Flower Plant Seeds 40Pcs Tropical Exotic Vine

Extracts of this fruit, such as passionfruit oil, will also be found in skincare products, as they greatly aid in moisturizing mature and aging skin.

Passionfruit is an excellent fruit that, in the past century, spread beautifully and widely across the Earth, offering growers the opportunity to provide more and more people with this excellent fruit that is not only delicious but also a great medicinal and health supplement. In addition, this fruit has become so versatile that you can find it in supermarkets and order it online all year round. So get passionfruit, experiment with it, and find the consumption method that best fits your availability, style, preferences, and budget.

Passion Purple Passiflora Edulis Fruit Plant Seeds

ANTIOXIDANT FRUITS

Jenny Dean

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