If you’re looking for exotic fruits, then there’s no better fruit than passion fruit!
Even the name of passion fruit is intriguing.
It’s perhaps the only food that tastes the sweetest when it is all wrinkly.
I simply adore this fruit due to its versatility; you can have it as is, in desserts, or in beverages such as this passion fruit tea.
So, let’s unravel the mystery behind this exotic fruit and answer the most frequently asked question, “what does passion fruit taste like?”
What Is Passion Fruit?
As the name suggests, passion fruit is a fruit that comes from the passion fruit vine, which is a climbing vine with incredible flowers.
Christian missionaries gave this vine its name, thinking that the passion fruit flower resembled the resurrection of Christ.
Passion fruit is golden, yellow, or purple in color. The fruit is round and around 3 inches long.
The rind of the passion fruit is thick and waxy. Inside the fruit, there are sacs, which are filled with small crunchy seeds and orange-hued juice, which is the pulp of the fruit.
What Does Passion Fruit Taste Like?
The passion fruit flavor is pleasantly tangy and tart, with a hint of sweetness.
At times, the tartness can have a bite to it— in this case, you can enjoy the fruit with a creamy sweetener.
Moreover, the passion fruit flavor is complemented by a strong, fruity scent and the juiciness of the fruit.
Click here to find out what does papaya taste like!
How to Eat Passion Fruit
Choose a ripe passion fruit, cut it in half, and then use a spoon to eat the flesh and seeds of the fruit. If your passion fruit tastes too tart, then you can add some sugar, cream, yogurt, or even ice cream to it.
You can also make passion fruit juice by simply extracting the juice.
For this, just rub the pulp on a sieve or press the two halves of your fruit in a citrus press.
You can also make passion fruit jam, nectar, or coulis. Passion fruit can also be used to make various desserts such as tarts, sorbet, or even popsicles.
It’s also a great addition to refreshing drinks such as margaritas or smoothies.
How to Cut Passion Fruit
Before cutting the fruit, make sure to wash it properly. This will remove any bacteria and pesticide residue. Use a sharp, serrated knife to cut the passion fruit in half.
You can then scoop out the pulp and seeds with a spoon or use the passion fruit rind as a fruit bowl and dig in!
How to Tell When Passion Fruit Is Ripe
Ripe passion fruit has a darker hue. The yellow variety will become dark yellow, red, or orange, when it is ripe and the purple variety will become dark purple when it is ripe.
Furthermore, check the state of the skin to see if the fruit is ripe; if the skin is wrinkly, then the fruit is ripe and it’ll taste sweet and tart.
However, if the skin is smooth, then the fruit is not ripe and will taste particularly tart.
Tips on Picking Out Passion Fruit
Here are some tips on picking out fresh passion fruit:
- When you are choosing passion fruit, you need to check its heaviness; the heavier the fruit is, the juicier it will be.
- Choose passion fruit that has dark purple or yellow skin.
- Pick out the fruit that has wrinkly skin as wrinkly skin is a sign of ripeness.
- Just make sure that the fruit has no green spots, discoloration, or bruising.
- Don’t choose a passion fruit with smooth and green skin as it’ll be unripe.
- If you want to pick a slightly unripe passion fruit, then pick one with a smooth skin that squishes a little under the pressure of your finger.
Where Is Passion Fruit Grown?
Passion fruit is native to Paraguay, Brazil, and certain parts of Argentina. Today, it grows in most of the countries that have tropical climates in Asia, South America, and Africa.
It’s grown in Kenya, India, Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Hawaii, California, Israel, Florida, New Zealand, and many other countries.
The Bottom Line
I hope you enjoyed reading this guide on “what does passion fruit taste like?”. It has a tangy and tart taste, with a hint of sweetness.
Wrinkly, yellow or purple passion fruits are ripe and taste sweeter than smooth-skinned, green passion fruits.
If you have never tasted passion fruit, then you are truly missing out!
If you are planning to try it out, make sure you pick a ripe passion fruit; otherwise, you will have to wait for 3 to 5 days before you can try it.
