Purple Passion Fruit

Description.

Passion fruit (forma edulis), the purple passion fruit, occurs in cool environments at higher altitudes.

The passion is a perennial climbing plant, which was introduced into Kenya in the 1920's. It is now a popular fruit for both domestic and export markets. From 2001 to 2005 export from Kenya of passion fruit was around 1,000 tons per year,

against a total production of around 30,000 tons yearly. The fruit may be eaten fresh, but mostly the pulp is extracted and preserved by heating or cooling.

The juice has a unique and intense flavour and high acidity, which makes it a natural concentrate. When sweetened and diluted it is very palatable and blends well with other fruit juices. Typical processed products are ice cream, sherbet, nectar, juices, concentrate, squash, jams and jellies. Passiflora plants are often cultivated as ornamentals for their showy flowers. Passion flowers are widely employed by herbalists and natural health practitioners around the world today.

They are mostly employed as a sedative, hypnotic (inducing sleep), nervine, anti-spasmodic and pain reliever.