Description
The Maracujá dos Açores - S. Miguel PDO is the fruit of the Passiflora edulis Sims species (red passion fruit). It is a fruit with 52% skin, 34% flesh and 14% seeds. Its weight varies according to the seasons, from between 28 gr and 40 gr.
Production Area
Maracujá dos Açores - S. Miguel PDO passion fruit is grown on the island of S. Miguel, in the Azores.
Production Method
This fruit is cultivated in light, fertile, well drained soil, protected from the wind by the island of S. Miguel. Passion fruit is grown from seed. The seeds are collected directly from the mature fruit and then dried in the dark and stored in a dry place. The seeds are germinated in a special tray called in tabuleiros which is filled with sand from the island's beaches. These tabuleiros with their seeds are placed in estufas, greenhouses, in the month of December. The seeds start germinating after about 30 days. They are transplanted when they have grown two leaves and the plants have reached 6-7 cm in height. They are then put in vases of 10-12 cm in diameter with a hole in the base for drainage and filled with compost. Fifteen days before the plants are ready to be planted in the earth, the windows of the green houses are opened to acclimatise the seedlings to the natural weather conditions. The fruits are gathered exclusively by hand from December to March and July to October. The plants are replaced every three years.
Appearance and Flavour
Maracujá dos Açores - S. Miguel PDO passion fruit is oval in shape with a diameter of 5 cm to 6 cm and has a particular and strong perfume. The skin is tough, wrinkled and is purple in colour, while the flesh is light yellow, extremely juicy, slightly acidic with tiny black pips.
History
It is not clear even today when Maracujá dos Açores - S. Miguel PDO passion fruit was introduced to the islands of the Azores. It is supposed that it was discovered by the first Portuguese explorers. Today the passion fruit grows here almost wild and it is also used as an ornamental garden plant. Only since the 1940s has Maracujá dos Açores S. Miguel PDO passion fruit been cultivated commercially.
Gastronomy
Maracujá dos Açores - S. Miguel PDO passion fruit, because of its thick skin can be stored for a reasonable length of time either in or out of the fridge. Apart from being eaten fresh as a table fruit Maracujá dos Açores - S. Miguel PDO is used as an ingredient in desserts, fruit juices and liqueurs, such as Licor de Maracuja which is made at home by the inhabitants of the island.
Marketing
This fruit is sold as Maracujá dos Açores - S. Miguel PDO. It is sold in cardboard boxes custom made to hold between 24 and 36 fruits.
Distinctive Features
Maracujá dos Açores - S. Miguel PDO passion fruit has always been used as an ingredient in a number of original local dishes, especially fish dishes such as sword fish with passion fruit.
