Tococa Passionfruit
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Tococa passionfruit is a small varietal, averaging 3 to 5.5 centimeters in diameter and 3 to 7 centimeters in length, and has an obovoid, globose, to broadly ellipsoidal shape with blunt, curved ends. The fruits typically weigh around 10 grams, and the exterior, sometimes referred to as a shell or skin, is thin, around 2 millimeters in thickness. The fruit’s surface is smooth, taut, and firm, developing a wrinkled, creased nature with ripening. When young, the surface may also be covered in a velvety down that disappears as the fruit matures. The skin transitions from green to dark purple when ripe. Underneath the surface, there is a layer of spongy green-white flesh that envelops a central cavity filled with seeds covered in arils. The seeds are 3 to 4 millimeters in diameter and 4 to 6 millimeters in length and have a dark brown, black, to grey hue. They are also encased in a translucent, orange aril with a soft, aqueous, and pulpy consistency. Tococa passionfruit is only edible when purple and ripe. Green fruits should never be ingested as they are toxic when unripe. Ripe arils and seeds are edible and have a slippery, succulent, and slightly crunchy mouthfeel. Tococa passionfruit emits a musky, tropical scent and has a sweet-tart taste with floral and fruity nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Tococa passionfruit is available year-round, with most fruits occurring between July and January.
Current Facts
Tococa passionfruit, botanically classified as Passiflora adenopoda, is the fruit of a tropical, herbaceous species belonging to the Passifloraceae family. The variety is native to the Americas and has been growing wild since ancient times. There are over 500 species within the genus Passiflora, and Tococa passionfruit is considered a vulnerable, rarer species. The fruits are known by several names throughout Central and South America, including Mountain Passionfruit, Estococa, Granadilla de Monte, Ococa, Tococa de Culebra, Pococa, Corona de Jesus, Amapolita, and Calala. Tococa passionfruit develops on climbing vines extending 4 to 15 meters in height. These vines are slender, less than 2 millimeters in diameter, and are covered in tiny hairs that help the vines stick to surfaces. In some regions of South America, the plant is nicknamed the “Velcro passionfruit,” as the tiny hairs latch onto clothing and other surfaces like Velcro. In the modern day, Tococa passionfruit is still found growing wild and has also been planted in home gardens as an ornamental. The fruits are only edible when ripe and are consumed in an array of sweet or savory preparations.
Nutritional Value
Tococa passionfruit has not been studied for its nutritional properties. Purple passionfruit, in general, is known to be a source of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, vitamin A to maintain healthy organs, and iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream. Passionfruit also provides potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, fiber to regulate the digestive tract, phosphorus to repair tissues, and folate to produce red blood cells. It is important to note that green Tococa passionfruit is toxic and should not be consumed. Unripe fruits contain cyanide HCN, also known as Hydrogen cyanide, that can harm the lungs, brain, or heart if ingested. Beyond the fruits, some communities utilize passionfruit leaves in teas and infusions as a natural medicine to calm the body. More research must be conducted on using this specific species in medicinal remedies.
Applications
Tococa passionfruit has a sweet-tart taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The fruits are only edible when they have ripened and their exterior a purple hue. Once mature, the fruits can be broken open by hand, and the succulent pulp and seeds can be eaten, discarding the shell. Tococa passionfruit can also be sliced in half, removed from the rind with a spoon, and consumed straight, out-of-hand. Both the pulp and seeds are edible, and for a less tart flavor, sugar, cream, or chile powder and lime can be added before serving. In South America, Tococa passionfruit is often blended and strained into a juice as a refreshing drink. The seeds can be strained through a cheesecloth, and the juice can be added to smoothies, cocktails, and other beverages. Tococa passionfruit pulp is popularly used as an edible topping over ice cream, parfaits, overnight oats, and fruit salads. The fruit juice is also infused into various fillings for desserts and baked goods or simmered into sauces, jams, jellies, and syrups. While less common, the fruit juice is incorporated into savory preparations and complements the flavors in seafood dishes. Tococa passionfruit pairs well with fruits such as strawberries, coconut, bananas, oranges, and guava, honey, maple syrup, dark chocolate, cilantro, basil, and ginger. Whole, unopened Tococa passionfruit should be stored at room temperature until mature. Once ripe, they can be placed in the refrigerator for a few days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Tococa passionfruit plants are sometimes used in home and botanical gardens to attract butterflies. The Mexican Silverspot, Julia butterfly, and Zebra Longwing butterfly are three species that often lay their eggs on passionfruit plants. The plants provide protection for the eggs, and once the larvae hatch, they use the leaves as a food source. Butterflies are also attracted to the plant's showy flowers that contain five larger petals and four smaller petals, giving the blooms a diameter of approximately five centimeters. The flowers open during the day and close at night. In the late 20th century, some experts theorized that Guatemalans may have perished when hiding in the jungle during the Guatemalan Civil War. It is hypothesized that the green versions of this fruit were accidentally eaten, and the toxic cyanide found within the unripe fruits led to death. While this is just a theory, and more research needs to be done before concrete conclusions can be made, this enforces the notion that the fruits must only be consumed when the surface turns purple and the fruit is ripe.
Geography/History
Tococa passionfruit is native to regions throughout the Americas and has a wide native range spanning from Mexico to Peru. The origins of the species are mostly unknown, as it has been growing wild since ancient times and is typically found growing between 600 to 1900 meters above sea level. Tococa passionfruit plants thrive in warm temperate to tropical climates and are often found in forests. The species has remained primarily wild, but over time, some communities in Central and South America have planted the species in home gardens as an ornamental. Today, Tococa passionfruit is grown throughout Southern Mexico, Central America, and South America, mainly in Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, and Ecuador. The fruits are harvested from wild and home garden plants and are occasionally sold in markets near their growing region. The Tococa passionfruit featured in the photograph above was sourced in Colombia.
