The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-10-25
PASSION FRUIT.
An Australian DeIicacy That Aprealsl
to All Visitors.

"Plums ?" l asked as Thea steward
handed me dish heaped up with
dark purple globes. mo sir, passion
fruit, sir" replied the steward.
glanced inquiringly at my vis-a-vis,
an Australian girl. Don't you know
passion fruit?" she said. Then this
is one of the great days of your life."
How many passion fruit must | take
to make it really greats" asked.
''Well, say half a dozen, and then the
steward had better put the plate out
of your reach, for after you have
tasted one you will want to take all
the rest"
So helped myself to half dozen,
writes a Sydney correspondent of the
London Daily Telegraph, and found
that the dark purple skin which had
suggested plums at first sight was in
reality a hard rind. Then, initiating
my fair instructress. I cut the top
off with a knife as If one were per-
forming a similar operation on an
egg, and had in hand natural cup
filled with greenish yellow pulp in
which were a number of flattish cir
cular seeds. "And now?" / queried.
''Well, there are lots of ways OF eat
ing passion fruit" she said, but
you had better start with them au
naturel. Just dip in your spoon and
begin and tell me what it tastes like"
With something of the emotion Of an
explorer entering upon new coun'
try put the luscious spoonful to my
| mouth, closed my eyes, and tasted
rapturously.
This introduction to passion fruit
took place on liner on the Australia
an coast. The question immediate
ly put to myself was, "Why have we
| not this delicious fruit in England 2"
I made inquiries and was informed
| that it would not stand the sea voy.
age. / was further told an anecdote
to the effect that Queen Victoria had
| a great desire to taste all the fruits
OF, her empire, and that her wish had
| been gratified in regard to all but
| the passion fruit, which it had been
| found impossible to convey home in
| good condition. / am not at all pre-
pared to vouch for the correctness
of this assertion; on the contrary,
i am much inclined to question it. And
| in any case, it seems likely that the
| street boy Of to-day may be able to
enjoy luxury that, according to the
story, was denied to his sovereign.
for in the Orotava has been sent to
| England a consignment of passion
| fruit, with view to testing the pos
| sibilities of trade. And If the venture
proves satisfactory I will take upon
myself to prophesy that in the course
| of year or two the London public
will be readily able to procure this
charming fruit, and that in year
or two longer the coster will be sell
| ing it from his barrow.
In Australia passion fruit is very
cheap. l have myself bought them
at twelve a penny, though these
were rather poor in quality. Never
theless six penny is common
price, and at four penny one can
buy first class passion fruit in most
| of the towns of Australia. Now this
is a trade which has been very little
worked up If there were large ex
| port demand it can hardly be doubt
| ed that passion fruit could be grown
exceedingly cheaply.
In New Wales passion fruit appears
| to be obtainable all the year around
though in the winter months they are
less plentiful and more expensive-up
to Sd. a dozen. The winter supply
probably comes from North Queens
land or Fiji. In summer, of course
| the fruit would be most welcome in
] England. On sultry day nothing
could be more refreshing than some
passion fruit. It has usually slightly
acid taste, so that most prefer to eat
it with powdered sugar. Epicures say
that it is best with little port wine
put in the fruit before it is taken
with the spoon out of it's natural
cup. This is certainly most seduc
tive way of consuming it. Half a
dozen passion fruit emptied on a
plate and mixed with sugar and
cream make dish for gourmet.