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Red Panama Passionfruit
Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Red Panama passionfruit refers to a tropical fruit that grows on a climbing vine with tendrils. The plant features deeply lobed evergreen leaves with serrated edges and showy, aromatic flowers. The Red Panama passionfruit is spherical or ovate, measuring around 9 centimeters in diameter. They are burgundy-red to purple in color and have a thick, slightly wrinkled, soft skin. The pulp is yellow with many shiny brown or black seeds, and offers an extremely sweet flavor with mild acidity.
Seasons/Availability
Red Panama passionfruit is available year-round, with a peak season in the spring to fall months.
Current Facts
Red Panama passionfruit is botanically classified as Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa. It is a vigorous-growing plant, and can produce 100 to 150 fruit per season. Red Panama passionfruit is also considered an ornamental plant, often grown to cover fences or trellises. All young, unripe passionfruit contain a TOXIC cyanogenic glycoside in their pulp, so it is important to eat only ripe, mature passionfruit.
Nutritional Value
Red Panama passionfruit contain vitamins A and C, as well as potassium and iron.
Applications
Red Panama passionfruit may be sliced open and eaten raw when ripe. Both the pulp and seeds are edible, while the skin should be discarded. The fruit may be strained to remove the seeds, and the juice used in cocktails, juices, syrups, cakes, jams, marinades, salsas, and savory dishes. Red Panama passionfruit pairs well with flavors like ginger, mint, vanilla, caramel, and salty, rich cheeses. They are excellent with other fruit like kiwis, mangoes, oranges and papayas. In Australia, it is common to eat the pulp with cream and sugar as a dessert, or to add passionfruit to dessert items like meringues. Store Red Panama passionfruit in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Red Panama passionfruit is commonly found in Australia, where red and purple varieties of passionfruit are highly prized and can cost twice as much as other varieties.
Geography/History
Passionfruit has its origin in South America, where it is native to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Red Panama passionfruit is more heat-resistant than other varieties, and can be found in Darwin, Perth and Queensland, Australia.
