The Cactaceae (Cactus) family includes the eastern prickly pear. There are around 1,800 species in this family, all native to the New World with the possible exception of one or two. With over 150 species in the genus Opuntia, the prickly pears are regarded as an ancient subgroup of the cactus family. It can be found from New Mexico and Montana east to Florida and Massachusetts, and it has the broadest distribution of any American cactus. Additionally, Ontario has it. Eastern prickly pears can grow in a region in big colonies or as a few lone plants. It is frequently referred to as Opuntiacompressa in older botanical manuals.
This species is a typical cactus with a stalk that performs photosynthetic leaf function. Water is also kept in this stem. It can endure the subfreezing conditions of the northern and middle states thanks to specific antifreeze compounds in its cells. The stems, or pads as they are more commonly known, can range in size from 4 to 12 centimeters (1.5 to 5 inches) in width and 5 to 17 centimeters (2 to 7 inches) in length. Pads can be joined in a branching or linear pattern.
Typically, the plants stretch out on the ground and grow little taller than 19 inches (0.5 meters). Some shrub-like plants in Florida can grow up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall.
Areoles, which resemble little dots, are scattered throughout the pads. Each areole has glochids (tiny barbs that hurt and irritate the skin when inserted), and the middle of the areole may or may not have a spine. At the tip of newly formed or actively expanding pads, there may occasionally be a little green structure paired with each areole. These are genuine leaves, but they will soon disappear.
Early summer sees the production of flowers at the ends of the pads. They are typically yellow, although the center of them is frequently crimson to orange east of the Appalachian Mountains and on dunes. In contrast to some other species, including the Indian Fig, Opuntia ficus-indica, the flesh of the reddish fruits is edible but typically not very sweet.
This cactus typically grows on calcareous rock or thin soil in wide-open, arid environments. It grows in or on fencerows, roadsides, prairie, rocky glades, rock outcrops, cliffs, abandoned quarries, and dunes. Well-drained grounds are essential since the roots need to remain dry during the winter to avoid decay.
Do they sell prickly pears at Trader Joe’s?
Here in the Sonoran Desert, I’m sharing a delicious prickly pear margarita recipe with you today.
Since I’m not a “desert rat,” this recipe required some trial and error. However, I was able to learn where to select the fruit (you shouldn’t pick it along the side of the road), how to handle it, and what the flavors are with the assistance of my neighbor.
This gorgeous, strong crimson margarita I made looks gorgeous and tastes fantastic!
Prickly Pear Margaritas A Sonoran Desert Recipe
Opuntia cactus produces a particular variety of cactus fruit known as prickly pears. Where I live in Arizona, it’s nearly everywhere, and is almost seen as a weed. Although I had never tried it before moving to Arizona, it is reportedly available at supermarkets like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. If you can’t get prickly pear fruit to make your own, you can substitute prickly pear syrup, which I also discovered online, in your recipe.
As a family, we first went out early in the morning to get some wild prickly pear fruit.
Prickly Pear Fun Facts
The cactus has many spines, and even the fruit contains microscopic hairs that resemble thorns. We picked the fruit with tongs and put it in a pail. For kids who have to come very close to the cactus to access some of the fruit, long pants and shirts are a smart idea. To remove the rogue thorns that are certain to get stuck in at least one person, it is always a good idea to bring a pair of tweezers with you.
When ought I to purchase a prickly pear?
Although prickly pear fruit is only found in warm parts of North America, specialty markets offer a taste of this unusual fruit to even residents in the north. The fruit of the prickly pear is a staple diet of the local aboriginal population in desert, hot climates. You need a plant to harvest prickly pear fruit, but they are delicious eaten raw, cooked, preserved, or made into preserves. Although harvesting isn’t difficult, you need take certain safety steps to guard against the long spines and even more dangerous glochids.
The prickly pear’s thick cactus pads start to get its ruby-red fruit decorations in August. The majority of knowledgeable gatherers advise choosing prickly pear fruit that is a deep crimson hue with no green still present. These fruits will have the finest flavor, be the sweetest and juiciest, and be the easiest to remove.
To protect yourself from the spines, wear long sleeves and heavy leather gloves. More hazardous than the huge spines are the small, nearly undetectable glochids. If you even just lightly brush across the fruit, your skin could become embedded with hundreds of tiny, invisible spines. Just in case, have some duct tape with you. Use it to get rid of the spines to save time and aggravation.
Are cactus fruit and prickly pears the same thing?
Although it is native to Mexico, the nopal cactus is also known as prickly pear cactus or Opuntia. Cactus fruit are known as tunas in Spanish. The thick skin of the fruit is covered in tiny spines, and it develops on the rounded edges of cactus paddles. You may cut them open to reveal a delicate, juicy inside that is filled with several dark, rounded seeds.
Prickly pears are they expensive?
Prickly pears are a fruit that Moroccans both adore and detest! Its name is appropriately given given that it is the cacti plant’s fruit and has a prickly exterior. During your Moroccan road journey, you will see an impressive quantity of these prickly pear cacti almost everywhere if you glance out the window.
Despite what its name in Moroccan Arabic, l’hindia (the Indian Fig), suggests, the prickly pear traveled all the way from Mexico to Morocco in the 1770s. It is currently thriving throughout North Africa and is ingrained in the daily lives of its inhabitants.
Moroccans Love and Hate Eating the Prickly Pear
The prickly pear season starts in the beginning of July. There are now street vendors in every region of the nation, in every town and city, and even on the sides of the motorways and major highways! Prickly pears are peeled and sold for around one dirham each. The majority of individuals consume their prickly find immediately, but some take it home and store it in the refrigerator for later. Its pulp can be used to make jams and spreads, but these products will lack the seeds, which are responsible for half of the fruit’s nutritional content.
Like many wonderful things, prickly pears are best enjoyed in moderation. Depending on your digestive system, eating more than 2-3 of these may cause you to get constipated for days, or the exact opposite issue. Yes, there is love and hate.
The Incredible Health Benefits of the Prickly Pear
A considerable portion of the prickly pear is used to make pharmaceuticals and treatments. Its seeds’ oil is used to treat cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. It has antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, soothes ulcers, lowers cholesterol, and combats obesity.
Although eating a lot of prickly pears won’t entirely heal you (as stated in the warning above), the oil they contain may be beneficial to your health and act as a catalyst for change in the way your body heals. It takes a ton of prickly pears to make only one liter of this priceless oil. Because of this, getting one liter costs roughly 10,000 dirhams, or about $800.
The high concentration of vitamins E, A, and C, Omega 6 fatty acids, and magnesium in superfruits is primarily responsible for their therapeutic and cosmetic effects.
The Prickly Pear in Beauty Care
This oil is regarded as a luxury organic skin care treatment and should be kept in a sacred location when used in a beauty regimen. especially while taking into account the cost! Prickly pear seed oil has proven to be quite effective at halting the negative effects of skin aging. Additionally, it is utilized for feeding, mending, and healing the skin, hair, and nails. Omega 6 and Vitamin E, which are highly desired ingredients in organic cosmetics, are abundant in it. In Morocco’s driest regions, Berber women have been utilizing this oil for decades. Many of them attribute the perfect skin they have despite working hard and being exposed to the sun, heat, and humidity to this miraculous oil.
The Prickly Pear Feeds Livestock
Animals can be fed the interior of cactus leaves since it is very affordable and simple to find. This is especially true in dry locations where it is difficult to find other plants and nutrients. Although it is not particularly high in protein, it is quite hydrating, which is very advantageous given that dehydration is a significant factor in animal fatalities during very dry summers.
The Prickly Pear Industry Empowers Women
Many women in various locations of Morocco have turned the laborious and demanding procedure of removing the seeds from the fruits into a business. These women, who are primarily from underprivileged rural areas, have discovered a financially advantageous buddy in the prickly pear. Around $4 is paid to these ladies for each kilogram of collected seeds. This may not seem like much, but for many rural Moroccan women who are trying to support their families or achieve some degree of financial independence, it is a critical amount of money. Therefore, you might respond, “Maybe not… but it kind of grows on cactus,’ the next time someone tells you that money doesn’t grow on trees. At least it does for these devoted Moroccan women.
About the Author
Meknsiya (a native of Mekns, Morocco) Lala Ouazzani enjoys exploring all that her home country has to offer. She has always loved food. Luckily for her, Morocco has a wide variety of mouthwatering foods to try. She loves learning about the history of her nation and sharing what she learns and experiences with as many people as she can. Casablanca serves as Lala’s current home base.
Is the prickly pear cactus edible raw?
Mexican food features a lot of cacti and their fruits. The broad, flat cactus pads, also known as “nopales,” are a common ingredient in many main dishes in Mexico, including salads, eggs, and other cuisines. The cactus fruit, sometimes known as “prickly pears,” is extremely delicious and can be consumed straight from the plant. They can be mildly sweet or syrupy sweet, depending on the degree of ripeness.
Cactus: Does Trader Joe’s carry it?
Perfect for gifts or to add a little something to that sunny window in your house. Succulents, cactus, and prefabricated succulent gardens are all available at Trader Joe’s for as little as $2.99. It never hurts to include a small succulent on the list of “thanks-for-hosting” items if you’re dashing to the shop to grab some last-minute dips and spreads before attending a party. One word of caution: Cacti and succulents require a lot of sunlight to thrive indoors, so if your home isn’t equipped with natural light, save yourself the heartache and avoid these little desert plants.
What kinds of plants are now available at Trader Joe’s?
- Hellebore Plant, available from traderjoesplants.com.
- Plant for a bulb garden. Trader Joe’s Westchester, California, traderjoesplants
- Trader Joe’s Plants: Tulip Plant.
- Trade Joe’s Plants: Azalea Plant.
- traderjoesplants Mini Succulent Garden Plant.
- targetjoes. Muscari Plant.
- TradeJoeGems Pink Jasmine Plant
- Hyacinth Muscari Plant. traderjoegems.
What is juice from prickly pears?
What Fruit Is a Prickly Pear? Few people are aware that the fruit of nopales cacti—cacti with paddles resembling beaver tails—are surprisingly tasty. These neon-colored fruits are known as prickly pears, and their juice tastes like a cross between watermelon and all-natural bubble gum (if such a thing exists).
Prickly pears are they healthy?
Prickly pears include essential elements for healthy blood pressure, such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium, as well as vitamin C, which is crucial for a strong immune system ( 6 , 7 ). Additionally, prickly pears include a variety of advantageous plant substances, such as antioxidants including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and pigments.
Do nopales and prickly pears look alike?
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The native to Mexico nopal cactus is also referred to as the prickly pear cactus. Considering how abundant in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals it is, many people are aware of its health benefits.
Opuntia ficus or Opuntia ficus-indica, the prickly pear’s Latin name, is the fruit of the nopal cactus. The fruit and leaves of the cactus are both edible.
Do prickly pears cause you to pass gas?
Whole prickly pear cactus is consumed (boiled or grilled). Jams and juice are also produced with it. If you want to try prickly pear cactus, think about starting slowly. Some persons may have moderate diarrhea, nausea, increased bowel frequency, increased bowel volume, and abdominal fullness as side effects.