Ingredient guide: Vine fruits

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The grapevine is one of the world’s oldest cultivated plants – it has been planted for about two million years. Passionfruit, native to the rainforest regions of the Amazon in Brazil, has become a staple in Australia and New Zealand, with many families growing passionfruit vines on backyard fences. Kiwifruit, originating in China, was introduced to New Zealand in the 20th century by the missionary, Isabel Fraser. The country has since adopted the fruit as its own, even changing its name from Chinese gooseberry.

Varieties
Passionfruit: There are about 50 species of passionfruit native to Australia and New Zealand, the most common being the purple variety with a thin skin, golden flesh and many black seeds. Not seen often in Australia is the yellow passionfruit, which is much larger than the purple variety with thicker, yellow skin. Passionfruit is high in vitamin A, potassium and dietary fibre.

Grapes: Black, red, pink, green, yellow, crimson and dark blue, grapes come in many colours. There are up to 60 species and 8,000 varieties of grape. Table grapes have a sweeter taste with a softer skin. Common varieties are the Thompson (green), crimson seedless (red), red globe and menindee.

Kiwifruit: Also known as Chinese gooseberry, varieties include golden kiwifruit and kiwiberries (or baby kiwifruits). One kiwifruit has one and a half times more vitamin C than an adult requires in a day. It is high in potassium and contains vitamin A and E.

Buying and storing

• Grapes do not ripen off the vine, so check the sweetness before buying. Look for grapes which have green stems, fruit full of juice and taut skin. Store in a plastic bag in the crisper section of the fridge for up to three days. Wash just before eating.
• Look for passionfruit with slightly wrinkled skin; avoid very wrinkly ones as they are older – the juice may have fermented. Store at room temperature for up to a week or refrigerate for up to three.
• Choose kiwifruit that is firm but yields to pressure, and feels heavy for its size. Store in the crisper section of the fridge for up to one week.

 TIPS & FACTS

• Grapes are the largest fruit crop in the world.
• For Jesuit missionaries in South America, passionfruit flowers are believed to represent the crucifixion.
• Passionfruit in Colombia, where it is widely grown,is known as maracuyá.
• Kiwifruit contains actinidin, which is a protein-dissolving enzyme. Hence, like pineapples, it will prevent gelatine from setting and is unsuitable with dairy.
• The leaves of the passionfruit vine have been used for centuries by the indigenous tribes of the Brazilian rainforest as a sedative or calming tonic.
• Australians eat double the amount of green grapes to red grapes; this may be due to the fact that many people believe all red grapes contain seeds.
• Approximately 71 per cent of grapes grown around the world are for wine, 27 per cent for fresh fruit and two per cent for dried fruit.
• Botanically, grapes are berries

Precious rubies
High in vitamin C, pomegranate is renowned for its antioxidant properties. To de-seed the fruit, cut off the crown and score the flesh into segments, making sure you don’t cut all the way through. Place fruit in a bowl of cold water for 15 minutes and break apart the segments. Using your hands, separate the seeds from the white pith – the seeds will sink and the pith will float. Remove the pith from the bowl and drain the seeds well.