Granadilla / Passion Fruit

We have two kinds of granadilla (passionfruit) species here. One is an orange/yellow thick skin variety which grows wild in our tropical climates and the other is cultivated for everyday use, is purple and has a thinner skin.

It is used in many ways, as an addition to cakes and icing, a flavoring in ice cream, yoghurt and soft drinks or fresh over fruit salad.

 If conditions are right, flowering may occur throughout the year. Individual flowers bloom for just 12-24 hours before closing. They will self-pollinate and are followed by green fruit, turning purple when ripe. Fruits usually ripen within 80 days of flowering. They grow on vines which love full sun except in climates where the temperature frequently surpasses 100F, then should be given shade. Plants are short-lived, usually maintaining good productivity for 4-6 years. Harvest fruits when they fall from the plant and are best eaten when wrinkles appear on the surface. When propagated from seed or cuttings, they will flower within their first year.

 The information below is from http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/herbal-supplements/passion-flower.php



Medicinal uses and health benefits of the passion flower
Passion flower has a long history of use among Native Americans. Today, passion flower is mainly used in the United States and Europe to relieve anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. It is also recommended for the relief of nausea caused by nervousness or anxiety. It works by slowing the pulse, decreasing arterial tension, and quieting respiration and pulmonary blood pressure. Passion flower is anxiolytic and analgesic. It decreases motor activity that can contribute to stress-related myospasms. Passionflower has been used traditionally for menstrual pain, diarrhoea and dysentery. An extract containing passionflower and hawthorn has been studied in people with congestive heart failure for the treatment of shortness of breath and difficulty exercising. When combined with hawthorn berries, passionflower is effective in reducing stress-related digestive spasms such as gastritis and colitis. Fruit juice as an eyewash for sore eyes. A tincture or infusion from dried leaves is an insomnia remedy. Homeopathic practitioners prescribe it for asthma and whooping cough. Applied externally, it has been used for hemorrhoids. Passionflower may also relieve anxiety in people who are recovering from heroin addiction.

 Dosage and administration

Passion flower preparations are made from fresh or dried flowers and other above-ground parts of the plant. Recommended dosages of passion flower generally range from 4-8 g of dried herb per day. To make tea, pour 150 ml (about two-thirds of a cup) of hot water over 1 teaspoonful of passion flower, steep for 10 minutes, then strain. Two or three cups of tea a day. Alternatively, 5-10 ml (1:8) of passion flower tincture can be taken three to four times per day.

 Side effects, precautions

In general, passionflower is considered to be safe and nontoxic. Possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and rapid heartbeat. Pregnant women should not take passion flower, because passionflower contains substances that can stimulate contractions of the uterus. Passion flower may increase the effects of drugs and herbals that promote sleepiness. It may also enhance the blood-thinning effects of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents.

 Granadilla Fridge Tart



Ingredients:

1 tin Carnation Milk (unsweetened)

1 pack Lemon Jelly

½ cup Icing Sugar

1 tin (110g) Granadilla Pulp

1 pack Nice or Tennis Biscuits


Method
Freeze tin of Carnation Milk.Dissolve jelly in 1 cup boiling water.Line pie dish with biscuits.When jelly begins to set, beat slightly defrosted milk with icing sugar very stiffly.Add granadilla and nearly set jelly, and beat well.Put 1/2 mixture on base, add another layer biscuits, then the rest of the mixture.Set in fridge overnight.