The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-09-02
PASSION FRUIT.
An Australian Delicacy That Appeals
 to All Visitors.

to All Visitors.
 "Plums?" I asked as the steward handed me a dish heaped up with dark purple globes.s No, sir, passion fruit, sir,' replied the steward. I glanced inquiringly at my vis-a-vls, an Australian girl. Don't you know pas sion fruit?" she said Then this is one of the great days of your life" ," "How many passion fruit must I take to make it really great?" | asked. Well, say half dozen, and then the steward had better put the plate out of your reach, for after you have tast- ed one you will want to take all the rest"
 So I 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 knife as if one were perform ing similar operation on an egg, and had in hand a natural cup filled with greenish yellow pulp in which were a number of hattish circular seeds. And now?' I queried Well, there are lots of ways of eating 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 enter ing upon a new country put the lus- cious spoonful to my mouth, closed my eyes, and tasted rapturously.
 This introduction to passion fruit took place on a liner on the Australian coast The question I immediately put to myself was, "Why have we not this delicious fruit in England?" I made inquiries and ] was informed that it would not stand the sea voy- age. I 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. I am not at all prepared to vouch for the correctness of this as- sertion; on the contrary, I am much inclined to question it. And in any case, it seems likely that the street boy of lo-day may be able to enjoy a luxury that, according to. the story, was denied to his sovereign, for in the Orotava has been sent to England I a consignment of passion fruit, with view to testing the possibilities of trade. And if the venture proves satis- factory I will take upon myself to prophecy that in the course of year or two the London public will be read- ] fly able to procure this charming fruit, and that in a year or two long CT the ,coster will be selling it from
 his barrow.
 In Australia passion fruit is very cheap, I have myself bought them at twelve a penny, though these were Irather poor in quality Nevertheless six penny is a common price, and at four penny ope 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 export demand 1t
 can hardly be doubted that passion
 fruit could be grown exceedingly
 cheap.
 In New South Wales passion fruit appears to be obtainable all the year
 around though in the winter months
 they are less plentiful and more ex- Ipensive--up to Cd. a dozen The winter
 supply probably comes from North
 Queensland or Fiji In summer, of
 course the fruit would be most well
 come in England. On sultry day Inothing could be more refreshing than
 some passion fruit. It has usually a
 slightly acid taste, so that most people Iprefer to eat it with powdered sugar
 Epicures say that it is best with a lit
 tie port wine put in the fruit before
 it is taken with the spoon out of its
 natural cup. This is certainly mos tseductive way of consuming it. Half a
 dozen passion fruit emptied on plate
 and mixed with sugar and cream
 make dish for a gourmet.