Sexy Fruit for Valentine’s Day

Fruit Maven — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:18:37 +0000

There is something sexy, enticing and adventurous about fruit. In some ways trying a new fruit is like falling in love. It requires abandon and risk. You have to search for it and once found, you have to be patient and careful so you don’t bruise or damage the beautiful nectar inside. Sometimes it works out and you have the most amazing experience, and sometimes you just end up wondering why you wasted so much time admiring something so dull that when you really think about it, kind of smells like vomit.

And so in the spirit of love and Valentine’s Day, I say ditch the flowers and party it up with FRUIT. There are lots of ways to go, so you have no excuses.

Sweet Hearts:
Seckel Pears, Cherimoyas

Not-So-Traditional Flowers:
Mangosteen, Ugli Fruit

Symbols of Love:
Passion Fruit, Pomegranate

Seductive Aphrodisiacs:
Figs, Apples

Direct and to the Point:
Banana, Papaya

Frederick Passion Fruit

Fruit Maven — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:00:33 +0000

If you always wanted to pick your nose and eat the boogers (we will just pretend you don’t do this every day in private), then this Frederick Passion Fruit is the fruit for you!

APPEARANCE 1.5 out of 5 stars

Extremely wrinkled, purplish, greenish, reddish oval fruit about the size of the palm of my hand (I know you don’t really know how big that is, just guess). Bright yellow goo (flesh) with dark seeds.

AROMA 5 out of 5 stars

Exotic and heady. I want to bathe in this smell.

TEXTURE 1.5 out of 5 stars

Gelatinous and seedy with a good amount of juice. Extremely odd texture compared to most fruit.

TASTE 4 out of 5 stars

Pretty tart, in fact I would say it comes dangerously close to being sour. Tropical and pineapple-y and lemon-y and delicious.

OVERALL 3 out of 5 stars

This is one instance where my structured rating system sort of fails me. I largely rate on snackability and this one is pretty low as far as that goes. Plus it looks hideous, has an extremely odd texture and is lobbying for the “most annoying seeds of all time” award (other competitors: Wonderful Pomegranate and Cocktail Grapefruit). However, it tastes completely amazing. I’ve never had anything like it and I want to sprinkle a little bit of it into everything I am drinking, pour it on top of ice cream, dip cookies in it, spread it on grilled cheese sandwiches and – oh my it is just delicious. I am smitten.

FRUIT

Passion Fruit

VARIETY

Frederick

PEAK

All Year (intermittent)

ORIGIN

South America

GROWN

Vista, CA

PURCHASED

Farmer’s Market

NOTES

I am struggling to write notes on this because seeing the word “Frederick” next to “Passion” reminds me clearly of Frederick’s of Hollywood. But the interesting folklore about passion fruit is all about how the flower is a representation of Christ and the Crucifixion Somehow it seems inappropriate to talk about both of these things in such close proximity. Oh well–too late now.

RECIPES

Passion Fruit Sauce over Chicken and Rice
Passion Fruit Cocktail

WHERE TO GET THEM

You can buy Passion Fruit at some standard grocery stores and local specialty stores and online here. If you get them online, a small amount will go to support the Fruit Maven. So thanks in advance!

Fruit Maven » Passion Fruit