Cactus fig

Prickly pear: A little commodity knowledge

Don't be fooled by the prickly pear. Despite its prickly appearance, it is worth cracking the shell, because the prickly pear hides a sweetishly aromatic pulp under its skin.

Characteristics

The prickly pear is considered a delicacy and is the fruit of the opuntia cactus, which grows up to four metres high. The prickly pear is the size of a goose and can vary in colour, namely green, yellow or red. It is not for nothing that it bears the title Cactus in advance, because many small spines sit on the prickly pear, which are equipped with barbs. These spines are often brushed off before sale. But caution is still necessary, as one or the other sting will always remain firm and can quickly prick your hand. The flesh is full of vitamins and has a sweet and sour taste, its taste is slightlyhttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/lb_icon1.png reminiscent of a mixture of pear and melon. The seeds lying in the fruit flesh can be eaten without hesitation. Even the leaves of the prickly pear are suitable for consumption.

Origin and season

The tree on which the prickly pear grows thrives in the arid regions of the tropics and subtropics. Mexico is the largest cultivation area for the prickly pear. But also in countries like South Africa, Australia, Israel and Spain, Greece the prickly pear thrives well. Prickly pears are available all year round and then usually come from Mexico or Israel, while from August to November you are often supplied with prickly pears from Spain.