History
The passion fruit (Passiflora edulis forma flavicarpa) is native to South America including Southern Brazil. It was imported to the island of Martinique, it is called maracuja. There are different varieties depending on the variety and the passion fruit comes from different areas of the American continent.
It would have been imported into the island by the Arawaks and the Caribbean for an unknown period. One species, the liana apple is endemic to the Lesser Antilles and would not therefore have been introduced on the island.
Varieties
There are several varieties of passion fruit in the world and various varieties are found in Martinique:
- The pomme liane, native to South America and the Lesser Antilles give dull yellow-orange fruits with smooth bark green or sometimes yellow, fluffy and very flexible. It is the variety that can be found on most of the island. Its scent is very special. It is eaten raw, juice, syrup, punch, or candied.
- The pomme calebasse, native to northern South America, is grown for its bright yellow fruit with bark smooth, thin and very tough. The yellowish pulp, acid and give a fragrant grape-flavored drink.
- The barbadine, is native to South America or Central America. It was introduced to the French Caribbean in the late 19th century. It is distinguished by its winged quadrangular stem and very large oval fruit with thick skin, soft green and yellow (see Brown) at maturity. The pulp is used to make syrup and jam. The immature fruit cooked as a vegetable, tastes like cucumber.
The tree grows as a vine with fragrant flowers called passion flowers.
Health benefits
Passion fruit is a fruit rich in antioxidants. It also reduces the symptoms of asthma.
Uses
In Martinique, it is found in the form of juice (see image opposite) or jam. Passion fruit is eaten in its natural state like a soft-boiled egg: split open and eaten with a teaspoon. Its tangy-sweet flavor goes equally well with fish and fruit salads. Maracudja is not eaten cooked.
The pulp is used for making syrups, jams, punchs, rhum arrangés but also other desserts like panna cotta. The immature fruit, cooked as a vegetable, tastes like a cucumber.
