Passion Fruit Trivia | 30 interesting facts about the fruit

Passion fruit is known for its special taste, and its… passionate name! It is also commonly used for creating cocktails!

Let’s find out more about it!

1. Its scientific name is passiflora edulis.
2. It is a vine species of passion flower.
3. Passion fruit native to southern Brazil through Paraguay and northern Argentina
4. It is cultivated commercially in tropical and subtropical areas.
5. Its fruit is sweet, and seedy.
6. The fruit is a pepo, a type of berry, round to oval, either yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous seeds.
7. The fruit is both eaten and juiced, the juice often added to other fruit juices to enhance aroma.
8. The passion fruit is so called because it is one of the many species of passion flower, the English translation of the Latin genus name, Passiflora.
9. Around 1700, the name was given by missionaries in Brazil as an educational aid while trying to convert the indigenous inhabitants to Christianity.
10. Itts name was flor das cinco chagas or “flower of the five wounds” to illustrate the crucifixion of Christ, with other plant components also named after an emblem in the Passion of Jesus.
11. Several distinct varieties of passion fruit with clearly differing exterior appearances exist.
12. The bright yellow flavicarpa variety, also known as yellow or golden passionfruit, can grow up to the size of a grapefruit, has a smooth, glossy, light and airy rind, and has been used as a rootstock for purple passionfruit in Australia.
13. The dark purple edulis variety is smaller than a lemon, though it is less acidic than yellow passionfruit, and has a richer aroma and flavour.
14. Raw passion fruit is 73% water, 22% carbohydrates, 2% protein and 0.7% fat (table).
15. In a 50 gram amount (roughly the size of one fruit⁾, fresh passion fruit contains 18% of the Daily Value (DV) of vitamin C, 21% dietary fiber, B vitamins riboflavin (5.5% DV) and niacin (5% DV), 6% iron and 5% phosphorus (right table).
16. No other micronutrients are in significant content.
17. One fruit has only 17 calories.
18. The dark seeds are crunchy but edible.
19. Purple varieties are smaller but sweeter and are more commonly found here in the US.
20. Yellow ones are more sour and larger and they’re Brazilians’ favorite.
21. It’s known to have calming properties and it’s used as a sleeping aid, to calm nerves and relieve anxiety.
22. It’s a source of vitamins A, C and B complex and has minerals as well: iron, sodium, calcium and phosphorous.
23. Passion fruit is rich in antioxidants, which are compounds that help to mop up harmful free radicals in the body.
24. Passion fruit is a good source of fiber.
25. Passion fruit is a tropical fruit that has a low glycemic index (GI) value. This means that it does not cause a steep increase in blood sugar after eating it, making it a good option for people with diabetes.
26. The flower of the yellow-fruited form of the passion fruit plant is self-sterile, while that of the purple-fruited form is self-compatible. Pollination of flowers is most effective when done by the carpenter bee.
27. There are three types of yellow passion fruit flowers, classified by curvature of style. To help assure the presence of carpenter bees, place decaying logs near the vines, which provide shelter for the bees.
28. In India, the government of Andhra Pradesh started growing passion fruit vines in the Chintapalli (Vizag) forests to make fruit available within the region.
29. In India he fruit is eaten raw, sprinkled with sugar and is also used to make juice.
30. In Sri Lanka, passion fruit juice, along with faluda, is one of the most popular refreshments. Passion fruit cordial is manufactured both at home as well as industrially by mixing the pulp with sugar.