Called prickly pears, these neon fruits provide delicious juice that tastes like a cross between all-natural bubble gum (if indeed there is such a thing) and watermelon.
Not to be fooled, once again, by their appearance, the flavor of prickly pears is anything but sharp. In fact, prickly pears are actually very sweet. Sometimes compared to strawberry, melon and even bubblegum, a ripe prickly pear has a soft interior filled with edible seeds, almost like pomegranate or papaya. Of course, its worth noting that there are hundreds of varieties of prickly pear, representing a range of subtle fruity flavors.
If youve ever been out walking in the desert and seen a cactus plant brimming with sharp, brightly colored bulbs, youve seen prickly pears. Despite their spiky appearance, prickly pears are edible cactus. Belonging to the Opuntia genus and native to Mexico, prickly pears are now cultivated all over the world thanks to their adaptability to multiple climates. They come in a variety of different colors, including lime green, yellow, and reddish-pink. But what are they supposed to taste like?
One thing you need to be aware of when handling prickly pears is the presence of small, microscopic thorns called glochids. These have barbed ends which, when they get stuck in your skin, are nearly impossible to get out. So, for harvesting, use tongs to twist their fruits away from the cactus paddles. Getting rid of the glochids in order to enjoy the fruit is a tricky thing, but there are several possible methods. You can scrub and wash cactus to remove the glochids, try soaking the prickly pears in a bowl of ice water which will loosen the spines, or even burn them off with a kitchen torch or gas stove flame.
Place the de-thorned fruits in a blender or food processor, add a little water, and blitz away. Strain the pulp and seeds afterward and youll have yourself a thick juice. This can be a base for cocktails — like a prickly pear margarita — or smoothies, rendered further down into syrup for candy or to put over ice cream, made into a vinaigrette for salad, or diluted with some sparkling water for a refreshing, healthy no-sugar soda.
Once the glochids have been taken care of, you can peel away the outer skin to get to the flesh. Despite their sweetness, prickly pears are not overly fleshy fruit. You can eat them as is, but it is far easier to juice them and use the rendered liquid to make any number of different things.
Besides the tangy addition to various recipes, the prickly pear fruit also boasts tons of health benefits. Each fruit is high in dietary fiber and contains important antioxidants and minerals. It has anti-inflammatory characteristics, and prickly pear extracts or supplements have been known to be effective in certain medicines. For example, its extract is used to treat type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.
Once you do cut open the spiky fruit, you can make some fresh prickly pear drinks like juice, lemonade, and cocktails. Alternatively, if you want prickly pear mixer without the hassle of removing the fruits shell, you can buy prickly pear mixer or syrup online.
CACTUS PEAR | Prickly Pear Taste Test — FRUITY FRUITS
FAQ
What is prickly pear supposed to taste like?
What does prickly pear candy taste like?
What does prickly pear liqueur taste like?
Are prickly pears edible when starving?
What does prickly pear taste like?
Many people confuse prickly pear’s taste with pineapple, but it is a berry and resembles more on flavor with raspberry and strawberry. The fruit has numerous seeds and sweet fleshy pulp. Some people also tend to compare the taste like a mixture of classic bubble gum and watermelon.
Can pears irritate your stomach?
Pears contain sorbitol(a sugar alcohol) and fructose(a fruit sugar). These compounds are naturally found in fruit and are typically well-tolerated, although some people find them irritating to the stomach. For example, individuals with irritable bowel syndrome or an intolerance to fructose may experience gas, bloating, or diarrhea after consuming pears. Altering the variety of pear and the amount of pear consumed may improve someone’s tolerance, however some individuals need to avoid pears altogether.
Are prickly pears sweet?
In fact, prickly pears are actually very sweet. Sometimes compared to strawberry, melon and even bubblegum, a ripe prickly pear has a soft interior filled with edible seeds, almost like pomegranate or papaya. Of course, it’s worth noting that there are hundreds of varieties of prickly pear, representing a range of subtle fruity flavors.
How to choose prickly pears?
Choose prickly pears that have vibrant, rich colors. Depending on the variety, they can be deep red, purple, yellow, or green. However, this can be a little confusing, because you should avoid green fruits unless they’re supposed to be green when ripe. It’s also a good idea to gauge the firmness.