Juice: The Truth about Passion Fruit

Written by on in Drinks, Nigerian Cuisine, Recipes

This is for you @Naijawife.

Passion fruit, Pawpaw and Lime
Passionfruit Smoothie

It all began on twitter.

Twitter_Naijawife

It was on the same day I went to the small vegetable market behind the store. On my way home from work.

It was the same day I noticed the waxy yellow skin. Nestled between Marrows and bell peppers. Large for their size.

Hmmmm.

My mind wandered.

‘….the name was christened by the clergy who accompanied the first Spanish explorers to South America. They saw the fruit’s brilliant flower as a symbol of Christ’s crucifixion, sometimes referred to as The Passion of the Cross. The beautiful corona threads of the Passion Flower were seen as the crown of thorns, the five stamens were wounds, the five petals and five sepals represented the ten apostles (excluding Judas and Peter) and the three stigmas symbolized the nails of the cross.

Source: Melissa’s Magazine

I asked if they were ‘in season’ and he said no. That they were always and forever the same price. All day. All month. All year. He sold them for 200 Naira a piece. Just over US $ 1.

Aromatique. Romantique.

A  heady mix of mangoes and citrus and something else I can’t describe.

I shook them one after the other. Hearing the seeds move in the bellies.

Satisfied, I chose the ones I wanted.  Two. 400 naira. Only.

I brought them home and went to bed. That was day 1.

On the morning of the 2nd day, I got out my red chopping board and my small serrated knife.

I cut one open, and some juice spilled. I wasn’t expecting that. I’d never cut open a passion fruit before.

Nigerian passion fruit pod

Using a teaspoon, I scooped the seeds and juice into a glass jar, with illustrated fruits on the lid.

Nigerian passion fruit in a jar

My fruit bowl was set. This time I poured on my yogurt, and then gingerly spooned 3 teaspoons of seeds and juice over the top.  Heavenly may sound trite but……it was. The fragrance, the texture, the taste.

Delicious.

And with a name like passion fruit one expects miracles.

Even before Madame Pompadour ate truffles, vanilla, and celery to heighten her desire for Louis XIV, food and sexual delight went hand in hand. Nearly every food from artichoke to passion fruit has been considered an aphrodisiac. The ancient Romans were said to prefer such exotic aphrodisiacs as hippo snouts and hyena eyeballs, and traditional Chinese medicine espoused the use of such rare delicacies as rhino horn. Foods serve a psychological purpose as well as a biological one–and for centuries

Source – The Aphrodisiac: Foods and Libido; Psychology Today

Homegrown. Yes, homegrown in Nigeria.

Passiflora edulis

Whole Nigerian passion fruit

In Vom, Jos.

Our passion fruit is the larger, yellow variety. Not the smaller, purple ones of Australia, perfect for <a title="Meringues and Pavlovas, after the fact" href="http:[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Juice: The Truth about Passion Fruit – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]

15 Comments

  1. Hi,

    I’m in Lagos at the moment and have tried to locate passion fruit at several fruit markets and shoprite to no avail. I am beginning to think they are only available to you in Port Harcourt which would be strange considering the market in Lagos. When next you visit the market, can you please get me the phone number of the supplier and email it to me. Would really appreciate it.

    Thank you,
    Yomi

    • Hi Yomi,

      Its weird!

      My nanny found some a few weeks ago in the larger market we go to.
      See I go to 2 markets – one large one, and a smaller one. The smaller one is closer to where I live, and they get their supplies at the large one. Well they haven’t had any in the small market since I got that batch!

      These fruits come by truck from the north so I’m not sure how possible it would be to get access to the details of a supplier but I’ll try.

      I’ll ask my nanny to check tomorrow and get back to you if she is successful.

  3. So so good! I grew up to my mother making fresh passion juice so this brings memories. She however used to add a single carrot to the drink. It never altered the color but added a little tinge of flavor.

    I would also add ginger.

    • Hi Yomi, I’m in Port Harcourt and I got it at a small fruit & veg store. They get their fruit from a larger market called ‘Fruit Garden‘

      You should be able to find it in Lagos (In Shoprite or fruit & veg stores) as it is grown locally.

      Thanks for stopping by

  7. Lol. Too cool.

    My mum actually grows these at home – she grows lots of stuff including turmeric and soursop. She finally sent me a picture but alas I cannot eat a picture so I have to wait until I visit her.

  8. Followed your site for 6 years but never left a comment. I still remember that post you put up about Jollof rice and Chicken. That was how i learnt how to grill my chicken perfectly.

    Never got the chance to say thank you then. nonetheless, better late than never.

    Where can i get Agave nectar in Abuja?

  9. I am literally squealing with glee!!!! I’m printing this page and will try this out tomorrow on my victim *cough* husband! Thank you Thank you Thank you!

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