Blue Crown Passionfruit
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Description/Taste
Blue Crown passionfruits are small in size, averaging 5 to 6 centimeters in length and 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter, and have a round, elongated, to oval shape. The fruit’s surface is smooth, taut, and slightly velvety to the touch, ripening from green to orange. Blue Crown passionfruits also develop from the plant’s large pollinated blooms, and remnants of the flower can sometimes still be seen attached above the stem of the fruit. Underneath the skin, a thick layer of spongy pith encases a central cavity filled with tiny seeds and a gelatinous, crimson pulp. The seeds are around four millimeters in length and have a brown-grey hue. The pulp surrounding the seeds is aqueous, pigmented, tender, and succulent, creating a slippery mouthfeel. Blue Crown passionfruits are edible only when ripe and have a mild, neutral, and bland taste. In some fruits that have been left on the vine to mature, they will have a subtle blackberry-like aftertaste.
Seasons/Availability
Blue Crown passionfruit is available year-round in tropical climates. In subtropical climates, the fruits are generally found in the late summer through early fall.
Current Facts
Blue Crown passionfruit, botanically classified as Passiflora caerulea, is a rare South American species belonging to the Passifloraceae family. The small, egg-shaped fruits grow on herbaceous, semi-evergreen climbing vines that can extend 6 to 9 meters in height, and the species is vigorous, fast-growing, and cold-tolerant. Blue Crown passionfruit vines have been growing wild since ancient times and are a semi-domesticated species valued for their showy, blue, and white flowers. The blooms can grow up to eight centimeters in diameter and have been utilized for medicinal and religious purposes. The fruits of the Passiflora caerulea species are secondary to the flowers and can be consumed, but the pulp typically has a milder taste than other passionfruit varieties, such as purple passionfruit. Blue Crown passionfruit is one of the most widely distributed species of Passiflora due to its ornamental nature, and the species is also known as Bluecrown passionflower, Blue passionflower, and Common passionflower. Blue Crown passionfruits fall to the ground when ripe and are collected as an occasional food source throughout South America.
Nutritional Value
Blue Crown passionfruit has not been extensively studied for its nutritional properties. Like other passionfruit cultivars, the variety may be a source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract, vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, and vitamin C to boost the immune system. Passionfruits also provide some antioxidants to protect the cells against free radical damage, calcium to build strong bones and teeth, phosphorus to repair cell tissues, and iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream. In South America, especially among the indigenous Maka and Toba people groups of Argentina, passionfruit flowers are steeped into tea to reduce anxiety, stress, and insomnia. The flowers are thought to have a soothing effect on the nervous system and are used in natural medicines as an herbal remedy.
Applications
Blue Crown passionfruits have a mild, neutral, and sometimes bland flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety is one of the less commonly consumed passionfruits due to its flavor, but the pulp is edible when ripe. It is important that the fruits must be ripe before consumption as unripe fruits may cause digestive stress and upset. Ripe fruits typically fall from the vine, indicating they are ready to be eaten. Only the red pulp and seeds are consumed, and the spongy skin and surrounding membranes are discarded. Ripe Blue Crown passionfruits can be spooned over ice cream, cakes, and porridges, or the juice can be extracted by pushing the seeds and pulp through a fine screen or cheesecloth. Passionfruit juice is commonly added to syrups, sauces, dressings, and marinades. Blue Crown passionfruits can also be simmered into jams, jellies, and other preserves with added sweeteners or fruit-based beverages and smoothies. The plant’s flowers are incorporated into tea blends with other flowers, such as chamomile or lavender, and the tea typically has a subtly sweet, tangy, and herbal flavor. Blue Crown passionfruits pair well with herbs such as basil, mint, and thyme, and fruits including mangoes, pineapples, coconut, and guavas. Whole, unopened Blue Crown passionfruits will keep for 1 to 2 weeks when stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. The pulp and seeds can also be extracted and frozen for up to three months.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Blue Crown passionfruit is the national flower of Paraguay. The species is native to the South American country and is predominantly found in the wild, growing along trees, walls, and fences. The exact year when passionfruit became the nationally selected bloom is unknown, but the flower has stood as a national source of pride for several decades. Blue Crown passionfruit flowers are said to embody the spirit of Paraguay. The vining plant’s hardy characteristics symbolize resilience among Paraguayan communities, and the plants are viewed as a species that contributes to local ecosystems, similar to the desire for Paraguayans to live in harmony with nature. Blue Crown passionfruit flowers attract beneficial pollinators, promoting biodiversity among plant life, and the fruits are a natural food source for various animals. The flowers are also treasured within religious communities, as they were once used by Spanish missionaries to share the crucifixion story of Jesus Christ.
Geography/History
Blue Crown passionfruit is native to South America and has been growing wild in regions of Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay since ancient times. The climbing vines naturally spread over rocks, trees, and other plants in the wild, and indigenous groups throughout South America were said to have gathered the fruits and flowers for culinary and medicinal practices. Over time, these populations, including the Incas, began semi-domesticating the species, and passionfruit vines were seen in village gardens. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish explorers and later Roman Catholic priests encountered passionfruit vines in South America. The flowers were used locally as a religious metaphor, and the seeds from the plants were carried back to Europe, where they were planted in greenhouses and home gardens. Blue Crown passionfruit was one of the most popular passionfruit varieties to be grown in England during the 19th century. The species was also spread worldwide as a novelty. Passiflora caerulea is an adaptable species, and the plants occasionally escape cultivation. Naturalization occurred in the United States in California, Louisiana, and Florida, New Zealand, Australia, and on islands in the South Pacific. Today, Blue Crown passionfruits thrive in humid to semi-dry regions and can grow in well-draining, moist soils or rocky, sandy, and clay-based soils. The species generally reaches around 1,400 meters above sea level and grows in sun or part shade. Blue Crown passionfruit vines are traditionally found along forest edges, roadsides, and riverbanks, growing over other trees and plants, and they are present in home gardens along walls, fences, and trellises. The fruits are sold on a small scale through local markets in South America and are found directly through growers in Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.
