Have you ever wondered what cactus tastes like? Let’s find out some surprising things about cacti and their use as food!
astonishingly , we can say that cactus is no less than any other nutritious nutrient in the human race ! Approximately 13 to 14 case of cacti are edible in various ways around the ball . Not only this , these comestible cacti have many nutrient promoting several health welfare . require to know more ? Read along .
Are Cacti ‘Really’ Edible?
Well , you are not alone in wondering about this ! In the current scenario , cacti or their pad , fruits , or peak are becoming very democratic in the solid food industry of Africa , India , and many other country for their different flavors and uses . So let ’s continue to the next part to bed what these eatable cacti are and how they savour .
What Does a Cactus Taste Like And Which Ones to Eat?
1. Prickly Pear Cactus
Botanical name : Opuntia coinage
The Prickly Pear Cactus or the Indian fig cactus is one of the most widely usable sort of edible cactus , mostly popular for its orotund flat paddles and hopeful red fruits . Both the launching pad and the flowers are edible and the pads are locally pop as ‘ nopales ’ whereas the yield as , ‘ Tuna ’ . These fruits are available all the time of the year !
The nopales are cooked while the mature or ripe fruits can be down natural . The pads have a mildly lemonlike flavor , and the yield are dulcet , somewhat like a cross between watermelon and berries . Nopales are also used in salads , tacos , and stir - fries , while the fruits are eaten fresh , made into jellies , or used in potable after removing the moment spine ( glochids ) .
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2. Barrel Cactus
botanic name : Ferocactus specie
In our recent clause , we let the cat out of the bag aboutdrinking water from a gun barrel cactus ! It has another name , the Fishhook cactus . These cacti have barrel shape Structure which is why the name ‘ Barrel cactus ’ .
They bear fruit of xanthous colour and look like pineapple with comestible seed . Despite the thorny anatomical structure of these cacti , the fruit are destitute of glochids and so it is unproblematic and promiscuous to remove them from the cactus by rick the yield to come off it from the plant .
all told , the fruits have a tart , lemony flavor and can be eat rude , used in jams , or supply to salad for a tangy boot . However , the seed are not so flavourful , rather mild and nutty when roasted .
3. Saguaro Cactus
Botanical name : Carnegiea gigantea
Saguaro cacti are the marvelous cylindric structures we see in the desert ! They look like tower ! So , since ancient time , these cacti have been a root of food for thought for many indigenous folk of the Sonoran Desert of North America which also covers some parts of Mexico .
The edible fruits of Saguaro cacti appear somewhat similar to the fruit of Prickly Pear Cactus . Additionally , it is sweet to try out with a flavor resembling a commixture of strawberries and figs and they are often rust fresh , dry , or made into syrups and jams .
Fact : Carnegiea gigantea can know up to200 years , reach almost 50 fundament grandiloquent with a circumference of 10 feet .
4. Cholla Cactus
Botanical name : Cylindropuntia species
The Cholla cactus ( enunciate as choy - ah ) is aboriginal to Southwest America and the edible parts of this cactus are the fruit and bloom buds . finally , these bud are harvested from March to other May . Some of the easy - to - eat cholla cacti are Buckhorn , Staghorn , or Pencil Cholla because most Opuntia cholla cacti are very splenetic or thorny , and reap the buds or yield from this cactus is a tough task .
While theflower budswith a slenderly tart and nutty flavor . Although , the bud are often roast or moil and added to salad , stews , or scrambled testis as well .
5. Dragon Fruit Cactus
botanic name : Hylocereus mintage
Dessert from the Desert ! We all know what a Dragon fruit or Pitaya is and most of us care to run through it in various ways ! So , it is in the first place from Central and South America although now there is no place on ground where it might not be available .
The cactus grows like a climber with buddy-buddy cylindrical stem as the industrial plant grow , it forms intricate root systems and get to climb and interlace with its backing structure . It bear beautiful white and yellow flowers with fragrance as well .
The edible part is the yield ‘ The Dragon fruit ’ with a gently sweet flavor , similar to a commixture of pear and kiwi . all told , Dragon fruits are commonly consumed fresh , added to sweet talker , or used in desserts .
6. Peruvian Apple Cactus
botanic name : Cereus repandus
A removed congeneric of the Dragon yield family originating from South America , the Peruvian Apple cactus is also one that bear thorn - less fruits with purpleness or red to yellow when mature with a sarcoid white pulp magazine dotted with seeds . The visual aspect of this plant is reasonably standardized to that of the Dragon yield cactus however it is not a tree creeper like that one . It has many other names as well , such as Giant Club Cactus , Hedge Cactus , Cadushi , and Kayush .
The comestible parts are its fruit which are sweet and crunchy to taste , with a tone similar to sugar cane or melon . finally , it ’s also often eaten fresh or used in yield salads and afters .
7. San Pedro Cactus
Botanical name : Echinopsis pachanoi
The San Pedro cactus originates from the Andes Mountain Ranges and mostly grows in in high spirits altitude between 1000 and 3000 metre high and also at extremely low temperatures . Additionally , it is a fast - growing cactus and often create mix-up between the Peruvian torch cactus due to its similar appearance .
This cacti rosiness at nighttime and bears red fruits . The fruits are sweet to taste and the light-green stems are also eatable after careful preparation as medicine . The stems have a bitter and slimly sour gustatory perception and are usually not eaten for look but for medicinal purposes . last , it has traditional uses in indigenous ritual and medicinal drug in Peru .
How to Eat Cactus—Identifying Potential Risks
One of the biggest risks of eating cacti or its fruit is dealing with the sharp spikes and pricker . Undoubtedly , it is the major thing to keep in idea whenever we try on to ware any kind of eatable cacti . First and foremost , wearing a span of hard hand glove and goggles while plucking the fruits or turn off the stems from the plant is substantive . Again , after safely plucking or cut the fruits and stems we demand to hit the spine extremely carefully before reaching the eating part !
According to many study , several skin status can occur due to cacti thorns which may lead to serious skin problem in one ’s body . Moreover , Glochidsare very dangerous , they can transport to one ’s clothes and injure any part of the body because they are almost unseeable to the au naturel eye .
Final Bite—Give Cactus a Try!
If you ’re look to expand your culinary art , cactus is worth a shot . You might like its alone taste and texture . Plus you could take the wellness benefits from it . So next time you ’re at the mart , why not pick up some nopales and start a formula ? astonishingly , you might discover your new favourite intellectual nourishment !
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