The Maracuya!Maracuya is native to Paraguay, Brazil and northern parts of Argentina. Its Binomial name is Passiflora edulis but is commonly known as Passion Fruit. It is a round oval fruit that turns yellow or dark purple when ripe and has a juicy interior filled with seeds and is grown to be eaten as a whole and sometimes just for its juice. To make sure you get a good sweet flavor is best to allow the fruit to wrinkle for a few days after being harvested as the flavor is enhanced. There are two types of Passion fruits, the yellow one which can be as big as a grapefruit and the purple one which is smaller than a lemon and less acidic than the yellow one and is known as gulupa in Colombia. This purple fruit’s peel may help control asthma symptoms in people according to some researchers and, the fruit in general is a good source of vitamin C and also good for people with high blood pressure. Maracuya has been associated with religion, hence the name “passion” which was given to it by Catholic missionaries who saw different religious signs in it and its tree. Everyday useColombia is the second country in South America after Brazil with diversity in fruits and you can find three kinds of passion fruits, making it one of the country’s most important fruits as it used for juices and desserts. Its seeds are used to decorate cakes in Brazil as well and the fruit itself is used as a mild sedative.In Hawaii they’re called Lilikoi and are normally eaten raw by cracking their rind and suck out its pulp and seeds but it can also be cut in half and have scoop out its contents with a spoon. It is not easy to find in stores so most of the passion fruits come from backyard gardens and can be found in farmer markets throughout the islands. Generally you’ll find Maracuya flavored syrups, ice screams, jellies and many other desserts. You’ll find this fruit as a main ingredient in mousses, cheesecakes, yogurts and cocktails around the world thanks to its special flavor which gives it its popularity as well as the strong belief of it being useful to lower blood pressure. Mousse RecipeWith an electric mixer, 2 cups of frozen passion fruit pulp, 4 cups of heavy cream, 14 ounces of sweetened condensed milk, mint sprigs and crisp cookies you can make a passion fruit mousse for you and 7 friends of yours.Place one single tablespoon of pulp in the bottom of 8 different glasses and set them aside. Beat the cream with the electric mixer until it holds stiff peaks, and then beat 1 1/4 cups of pulp with condensed milk in a large bowl while adding 1/4 of the cream you whipped before. While still whipping fold in the remaining cream and fill your 8 glasses. You can serve immediately with some mouse on each one of the glasses with some pulp sprinkles on top or cover your mix with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving it with mint sprigs along with your cookies. Medicinal UsePassion Fruit’s pulp, juice, flowers and leaves infusion is known to have a relaxing effect and is used as a light sedative and as a painkiller. A cup or two of infusion a day is recommended in cases of bronchial and intestinal spasms. It is known to cause a slight vasodilatation effect for which its regular use is not recommended to avoid toxic effects and, some the fruits species’ flowers act as hallucinogens.Return from Maracuya to Colombia Tourism Return from Maracuya to Colombia Travel Guide New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
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