Tropical Smoothie Bowl is a fest of tropical fruits; passion fruit, mango and pineapple blended with coconut milk and ice cubes for an exotic start to the day.
I don’t know for you, but tropical fruits are my favourites! This Tropical Smoothie Bowl is an ode to the tropics with its exotic flavours. The smoothie base is a pineapple and mango blended with coconut milk with a topping of pineapple, shredded coconut and last but not least, Passion fruit (or Maracuyá).
Every bite has a new fun texture with an overall tropical flair! Without saying it’s filled with vitamins, let’s say… enough to last a year without getting scurvy. A great combination of exotic flavours complements one another beautifully.
The Many Names of Passion Fruit
To make it more straightforward… There are three popular Passion Fruits, yellow, purple and reddish. Which is without contest the more prominent names we’ll get about those exotic fruits. Called after the exquisite flower of a subtropical/tropical vine plant called Passiflora edulis. In English, the confusion about the name isn’t a big deal; since the fruits come from a faraway exotic place, we simply give it the name “passion fruit” or “passionfruit” followed by its colour. However, in the rest of the world, where they now grow “passion fruits” (Hawaii, South America, Australia, SE Asia), there are tons of different names to refer to the actual same fruit—making it all too confusing.
Confusion, Confusion
Oh my…. this segment, just here, is the most comprehensive research I’ve ever done on any posts from this blog. Also a taboo subject at home, an eternal fight over “how to name” the different types of passion fruits. My husband believes the fruits are all called “passion fruits,” whether purple, yellow, red, or banana-shaped… But after living in Peru, where they reach the yellow passion fruit “Maracuyá” and then later in the Caribbeans, they also “Maracudja”… In Spain, at the Supermarket, they label those three differently: “Maracuyá” for the yellow one, “passion fruit” for the purple and the orange one “granadilla,” just as I thought…
Origin
The purple passion fruit’s origin is in Brazil, where the Portuguese would call it “Maracujá” after a guaraní term “mburucuja,” which means “flies hammock,” there is no need for explication here… From there, it spread throughout South America; most Spanish countries would call the yellow passion fruit “Maracuyá.”
However, back in the day, the Spanish missionaries tried to convert the South American natives. They would call the fruit “passion fruit” because the flower reminded them of the “Passion of the Christ” symbols like the five wounds, the hammer and nails on the bottom of the crown of thorns… so nothing to do with a passionate love story. In the end, nobody ever bothered to figure out the name of those delicious exotic fruits.
Other names given
Let’s forget about the names and use their Latin words and colours to explore the three main types of passion fruits.
- The yellow passion fruit (flavicarpa): Of unknown origin, probably the Brazilian Amazon, apparently the original passion fruit. More significant than the purple one, it has an oval form filled with delicious exotic juice and comestible seeds. This one is mainly used for its juice, making a sensational drink in Peru called “Maracuya Sour”. Filled with pectin, a natural gel agent, it’s suitable for many delicious desserts, and ice creams. Its acidity is also used for ceviches. Taste similar to purple passion fruit. (Often referred to as “Maracuyá“)
- The purple passion fruit: A smaller version, purple and rounder with a bright yellow interior. It contains fairly fewer seeds and juice than the yellow one but tastes as delicious. A touch of acidity, great to eat by itself with a spoon. (Named simply passion fruit by many)
- The orange-reddish one (ligularis): A longer form and the stem is differently formed than the other two. This one has a gray interior and tastes quite different than the other two. A really lightly sweet and perfumed flavour while the other two are bold, acidic yet sweet. (Often referred to as “granadilla” in Spanish)
Anyhow, the truth is: it’s a fantastic fruit that needs much more attention! For this recipe use the yellow or purple variety, but count double if you chose the purple ones since they are smaller. Unlike any other fruits… these are sweet and at their best when the shell becomes wrinkly, if it looks like your grandma’s skin then it’s ripe and ready to be consumed. Otherwise, if too acidic simply add a touch of simple syrup to it or honey to balance some of the acidity.
Other Tropical Recipes
Let’s get this exotic smoothie going!
Tropical Smoothie Bowl / Passion Fruit in details
Ingredients
- 300 g pineapple
- 1 mango
- 200 ml coconut milk
- ice cubes (to taste)
- 1 pinch salt
Toppings
- pineapple (to taste)
- 1 maracuya (or 2 passion fruits)
- shredded coconut (to taste)
Instructions
- Blend all the ingredients except the toppings until smooth.
- Cut the passion fruit into two, and test it out; if it is still too acidic, add 1 tbsp of simple syrup and mix.
- Add the toppings.
10 Comments
This is a delicious looking smoothie bowl. Love those pictures of the passionfruit.
Thanks Mark, it was quite a challenging journey to figure out about that fruit
This looks SO refreshing! I love your descriptions of the different passion fruit’s as well – I had no idea about the different varieties or really how to best enjoy them, but now I do!
It’s my passion… passion fruits;) does it show?
Your research was very thorough and enjoyable to read. I learned a thing or two today ;). The smoothie bowl looks so enticing as well. Well done!
Thanks 🙏🏻 however my research is a story without an end…;)
Whatever it’s called, your smoothie bowl is gorgeous! It’s almost too pretty to eat! I tried to grow passion fruit once after seeing it blooming in Bruges, but it didn’t survive my Canadian winter. I enjoyed reading all the results of your detailed research!
Yes… they need subtropical climate… i m surprised 😳 they could grow some in Bruges?!!! I would love my own plantation too!
Yes! We figured if they survived in Bruges, they would be okay here. I might try again in a warmer spot in the garden as other people do grow them here.
I absolutely adore passion fruit! I never knew there were so many names for it! Lovely smoothie bowl 🙂