Passion fruit: how to use the pulp, juice and flowers

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Maracuya, better known as passion fruit, is the wrinkled fruit of a tropical climbing vine. The pulp is intensely perfumed, sharply acidic and full of crunchy seeds. This page covers what is in it, what herbalism and naturopathy credit it with, and exactly how to turn it into juice, an infusion, a face mask or a sauce tonight.

Passion fruit at a glance

A short story of the fruit

• Native to tropical America, with Brazil as its centre of origin.
• Known and used by Indigenous peoples of South America long before Europeans arrived.
• Reached the West in the 17th century, first as a curiosity, then as a garden vine and a market fruit.
• The vine is grown ornamentally in mild gardens, and under glass in cooler climates.

What it is credited with

• Digestive comfort — the fibre-rich pulp has a long-standing reputation in naturopathy for supporting regular transit and easy digestion.
• Everyday tone — for its vitamin C content, it is traditionally counted among the fruits eaten to keep general vitality up through cooler seasons.
• Calm and rest — herbalists use infusions of passion flower leaves and flowers, not the fruit, for nervous tension and restless evenings; the plant has a classic reputation as a gentle relaxant.
• Tired eyes — Indigenous peoples of the Americas traditionally used the pressed juice as a wash to relieve sore, tired eyes.
• Skin soothing — the mashed pulp is a folk remedy applied to reddened skin and mild sunburn to cool it.
• Hair and skin care — passion fruit seed oil is credited in natural cosmetics with softening dry hair and nourishing dull skin.
• A place in a light diet — naturopathy values it as a low-calorie, strongly flavoured fruit that satisfies a craving for something sweet.

How to use it

Eaten fresh

• Cut in half across the middle, scoop the pulp and seeds with a teaspoon.
• Wait until the skin wrinkles: smooth fruit is sour and thin-flavoured.
• One or two fruits are plenty at a sitting — the flavour is concentrated.
• Spoon over yoghurt, porridge or a fruit salad in the morning.

Home-made juice

• Scoop the pulp of about five very ripe fruits into a large glass of water.
• Whisk or blend briefly, just enough to loosen the pulp from the seeds.
• Pass through a sieve to hold back the seeds; sweeten lightly to taste.
• Drink fresh, the same day; a glass in the morning or with a meal is the usual habit.

Infusion of the flowers and leaves

• Use dried flowers and leaves of the passion flower vine, not the fruit.
• Pour freshly boiled water over a small pinch in a cup, cover, steep 5 to 10 minutes.
• Strain. Up to two cups a day is the traditional habit, the last one in the evening.
• Keep to short stretches of a week or two rather than continuous daily use.

On the skin and hair

• Cooling pulp: spread mashed pulp thinly on reddened skin, leave a few minutes, rinse with cool water.
• Face mask: mash the flesh of one fruit with half a banana, leave on for 20 minutes, rinse.
• Scrub: mix the flesh of one fruit with a tablespoon of sugar, massage gently, rinse well.
• Hair: add a few drops of passion fruit seed oil to your usual dose of shampoo, or to a conditioner for dry ends.
• After shaving or waxing: a drop or two of the oil smoothed over the skin.

In the kitchen

• Desserts: cheesecakes, mousses, sorbets, smoothies, tiramisu, tarts and jam.
• Syrup: brushed onto sponge cakes, poured over panna cotta or ice cream.
• Savoury: juice in a salad dressing, or as a marinade for fish, chicken and seafood.
• Exotic sauce: passion fruit with mango and kiwi, spooned over grilled fish or scallops.
• Pairings: orange and mango bring out its perfume best.

Frequently Asked Questions

The one thing to remember: wait until the skin wrinkles, then scoop the pulp with a spoon — that alone gives you the fruit at its best, and the leftover pulp can go straight onto your skin as a mask.

How do I know when a passion fruit is ripe?

Look for a wrinkled, slightly dimpled skin and a fruit that feels heavy in the hand. Smooth-skinned fruit is under-ripe, sour and thin in flavour. Leave it at room temperature for a few days, then refrigerate once wrinkled.

Can I eat the seeds?

Yes, the crunchy seeds are eaten along with the pulp and are part of the fibre content. Sieve them out only when you want a smooth juice or sauce. If your digestion is sensitive, keep portions modest.

Is passion fruit the same thing as the passion flower used in herbal teas?

They come from the same family of vines, but not the same part. The edible fruit comes from Passiflora edulis, while herbalists infuse the dried flowers and leaves of passion flower for nervous tension and restless evenings. Eating the fruit is not the same as drinking the infusion.

How do I make passion fruit juice at home?

Scoop the pulp of about five very ripe fruits into a large glass of water, whisk or blend briefly, then sieve out the seeds. Sweeten lightly if you like and drink it the same day. The same juice works in dressings and marinades.

Can I use the pulp on my skin?

Naturopathy suggests mashed pulp, alone or with half a banana, as a cooling mask left on for twenty minutes. Patch-test on the inner forearm first, keep it away from the eyes, and never apply it to broken or blistered skin.

This information is provided for general interest and reflects the traditional use of plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice. If you are on medication, pregnant, or in any doubt, ask a healthcare professional.