How Do I Choose the Best Passion Fruit Juice?

Passion fruit is a tropical fruit also called the "purple granadilla." The name granadilla is Spanish, and means “little pomegranate,” so called because of the similarities between the two fruits. A Brazilian native, passion fruit is now grown in other parts of the world including India, Hawaii, California, and New Zealand. Choosing the best passion fruit juice is partly a matter of reading the label and partly a matter of personal taste.

In some cases, passion fruit juice contains additives that detract from its purity. One of the most common examples of this is sugar, which is sometimes added as a flavor enhancer and a way to use less juice. In some cases the juice may be labeled as a juice product, and reading the label reveals a very small percentage of fruit juice. The rest of this type of beverage typically consists of sugar water, not juice. Such products usually provide very little nutritional value and should be avoided.

Other things commonly added to passion fruit juice are flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and artificial colors to enhance its appearance. These additives do not benefit the consumer in any substantial way, and for some people they can even be harmful. As a general rule, the best passion fruit juice does not contain anything except pure juice.

Passion fruit can be either purple of yellow on the outside, though the insides of both varieties look much the same. The egg-shaped fruits are filled with a soft, juicy yellowish pulp and many large, edible seeds. The seeds and pulp are typically strained out of any juice. As with other fruit juices, a certain amount of pulp in the juice is desirable in many cases, as it adds fiber. This is mostly a matter of personal preference.

Some varieties of fruit make better passion fruit juice than do other types. These can often be identified by reviewing the label on the juice bottle or can. Some examples of these are the large purple Frederick, the Kahuna, and the Red Rover.

Choosing passion fruit juice that is labeled organic is an excellent way to avoid any concerns about pesticide contamination. If you can find organic fruit but not organic juice, you can make your own passion fruit juice by squeezing the fruits, then straining the resulting juice. Homemade juice is best when fresh but usually it can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week without spoiling.