How to make passion fruit nectar

Living on a farm in Brazil, I've gained local in-depth knowledge of food, plants, and traditions, which I share through my articles.

How to Make Passion Fruit Juice

Photo by Olivier Guillard on Unsplash

I've never met anyone who doesn't like passion fruit juice. At our home here in Brazil, we always offer our guests juices, and passion fruit is a favorite.

You don't have to book a vacation to the tropics to enjoy this juice, however, because it's easy to make at home. Although it can be purchased ready-made, these have been heated and don't taste the same.

To experience the true taste of passion fruit, you should juice it from fresh fruit.

How Passion Fruit Grows

The passion fruit grows on a vine, similar to grapes, sending out tendrils to grasp onto a surface such as a fence, wall or trees. It is a vigorous plant and has been known to overtake trees and even climb onto the roof of houses. It is a plant that needs to be kept under control instead of pampered like some plants. It is a beautiful plant with dark green leaves, exotic flowers, and green fruit which turns yellow or purple, depending on the variety you're growing.

The year-round availability means this is fast becoming one of our favorite juices in our home. It is quick and easy to prepare and full of vitamin C. It also has the added benefit of helping one to sleep.

In the photo below, you can see the passion fruit vine, flower, and fruit.

Passion fruit vine, flower and fruit

Mary B Thorman

Ingredients

• 5-7 passion fruits, depending on size
• 1/3 cup sugar, substitute sweetener if you prefer
• 1 litre (1 quart) cold water

maracuja or passion fruit

Own photo

How to Cut Passion Fruit

Start by cutting the passion fruit in half, from the stem to the bottom. Depending on your variety, you may need a bit of force to get through the skin. They can be a bit tough.

Be forewarned; the juice will start to ooze out. Separate the halves as quickly as possible to avoid this. Lay this with the cut side up as in the photo to retain all that juice inside.

Alternatively, you can cut the top off and scoop it out with a teaspoon as though it were a soft-boiled egg.

Additional information:

They will use the fruit's empty shell as a candle holder in Brazil during religious festivals and parades.

How to Eat Passion Fruit

If you decide you don't want to juice it, at this point, you can scoop it out and eat it with a spoon. Some varieties are tarter than others. In America and Europe, you'll likely purchase the purple fruit, which is sweeter and would need less sugar.
Sprinkle a little sugar on top and scoop it into a spoon and eat it, seeds and all.

Add sugar

Removing the seeds from passion fruit

Instructions for Juicing Passion Fruit

1. Scoop out the insides of the passion fruit into a blender, seeds and all. Don't worry if the white pith goes in; we will be using a sieve to remove this. Do this with all the passion fruit..
2. Next, add the sugar. I like to use 1/3 to 1/2 cup of sugar. The amount varies on the ripeness. Start with 1/3 if you are using the sweeter purple-skinned variety. If you prefer to replace the sugar with your favorite sweetener, then adjust to taste.
3. The next step is to add the water. I like to use chilled water, and I fill this up to the blender's 1-liter mark. That is about a quart.
4. Turn the blender on low. You will hear the seeds breaking up but this is okay.
5. The easiest way to remove the seeds is through a sieve. I use a fine nylon sieve and place this over a funnel or a wide mouthed jug. Pour the liquid including the seeds carefully into the sieve. Using a spoon, gently stir the mixture so the seeds don't block the sieve, this allows the juice to pass through. Continue doing this until there is no more juice. You will have a sieve with foam and seeds. This can be discarded. Note: Here in Brazil, the seeds are often used to decorate cakes. They are edible and quite crunchy. I eat them but be aware you can get appendicitis from eating seeds. They can get stuck and cause a blockage which is one cause of appendicitis.

The Juice Is Ready

When you have passed this through the sieve your juice is ready. It can be kept in the refrigerator until you are ready for it. The juice will separate with the foam rising to the top, don't be alarmed, just stir this up with a swizzle stick or spoon before serving. I normally place a pitcher of passion fruit juice on the table with a wooden spoon, so whoever is pouring can give it a quick stir before each serving.

Passion Fruit as a Sleeping Aid

Here in Brazil, many of the over the counter sleeping aids are made from passion fruit. Some of my friends here will drink a small glass of passion fruit juice before going to bed.

The juice also helps to lower the blood pressure. Many people here know just how beneficial the various juices are and drink juice daily.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: How long will passion fruit juice keep?

Answer: I normally make it in the evening to have it with our dinner. What we don't finish, I will have the next morning. Any juice is best when it is freshly made. You can adjust the quantities to suit what you will consume in two days.

Question: Are there any more ingredients for passion fruit juice?

Answer: We use just sugar and water. You can experiment with what you like. Something like fresh ginger, used sparingly, would, I believe go well.

Passion fruit juice is an excellent juice on its own though.

Question: I have passion fruits that turn orange and there's a pouch of seeds with red gel around it. Did I wait too long to pick it? I've tried picking them when they are green then there's nothing but membrane and some seed.

Answer: Your first example does seem to be too old. The passion fruit will mature on the vine. The type I have is yellow on the outside so it's easy to spot in the dark green foliage. If yours is the purple variety then it may be more difficult to tell. Examine your plant daily to see if any have come away from the plant. Sometimes they get stuck in the leaves and the vines making it more difficult to realize its ready.

If you shake the fruit you should be able to feel if there is juice in among those seeds.

This is a common sight here in the supermarkets. Women will shake each one before deciding to purchase.

The juice is clinging to the seeds and that's why a blender is the best way to go for removing them.

Question: Can I use one passion fruit to make juice at home?

Answer: Yes, you can. You will need to adjust the water accordingly. This will be to taste as would the addition of sugar or other sweetener.

© 2011 Mary Wickison