Sweet granadilla Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Sweet granadilla

Passiflora ligularis in flower

Passiflora ligularis fruits
Scientific classification
Genus:	Passiflora
Species:	ligularis

The seed of a sweet granadilla

The sweet granadilla (scientific name: Passiflora ligularis) is a type of passion fruit plant. It's often called granadilla in many countries like Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. In Venezuela, it might be known as granadilla de China or parcha dulce. People love its sweet, juicy fruit.

What is a Sweet Granadilla?
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What is a Sweet Granadilla?

The sweet granadilla plant is a climbing shrub that stays green all year. Its stems can grow up to 5 meters (about 16 feet) long. It uses special curly parts called tendrils to climb over the ground or up other plants.

Where Sweet Granadillas Grow

This plant originally comes from the Andes Mountains in South America. You can find it mainly in countries like Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. It also grows as far north as Mexico and as far south as northern Argentina.

Sweet granadillas also grow in tropical mountain areas of Africa and Australia. In these places, they are often called passionfruit or granadilla. In Papua New Guinea, people call them 'sugar fruit'.

Ideal Growing Conditions

Sweet granadillas like mild climates. They prefer temperatures between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius (59 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit). They also need a good amount of rain, about 600 to 1000 millimeters (24 to 39 inches) each year. These plants grow best at high altitudes, usually between 1,700 and 2,600 meters (5,600 to 8,500 feet) above sea level.

The Plant's Appearance

The sweet granadilla plant has many simple leaves. Its flowers are greenish-white.

The Fruit Itself

The fruit of the sweet granadilla is round and has a small tip where it connects to the stem. It is usually orange or yellow with small, light spots. The fruit is about 6.5 to 8 centimeters (2.5 to 3 inches) long and 5.1 to 7 centimeters (2 to 2.75 inches) wide.

The outside shell is hard and smooth. Inside, there's a soft padding that protects the seeds. The seeds are black and hard. Each seed is covered in a clear, jelly-like pulp. This pulp is the part you eat, and it tastes soft and sweet. It also smells very nice!

Nutritional Benefits

The sweet granadilla fruit is not just tasty; it's also good for you! It contains important vitamins like A, C, and K. It also has minerals such as phosphorus, iron, and calcium.

Who Produces and Buys Them?

The main countries that grow sweet granadillas are Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil. In Brazil, it's known as maracujá doce, meaning "sweet passion fruit". Other producers include South Africa, Rwanda, and Kenya.

The countries that buy the most sweet granadillas are the United States, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain.