Passionate about Passion

Before having moved to East Africa, I can't say that I have tried passion fruit. Tart, sweet, seedy, and slimy are all ways to describe this exotic fruit. From the looks of it, or eating it just plain may not be one's cup of tea. East Africa has taken passion to a whole another level. You can find passion fruit done in about every way possible ... and in a word.... delicious.

In a recent trip to Zanzibar I tried all forms of passion fruit. Zanzibar Coffee House located in the heart of Stone Town does a lot of things right, but one item that sends me into bliss is their passion tart. Three layers of goodness in every bite - the crust, the cream, and the passion custard. You can also try the Avocado, Passion, Mango juice. It's surprising how the avocado takes on the flavor of the fruit letting it shine.
Just off the road in the Shangani district of downtown Stone Town is a small, quaint place called Lazulis. White washed walls, where african decor meets shabby sheek screams potential. There was not a day where this 5 tabled restaurant wasn't full. Fresh Juice bar is what kept drawing us back in. After long walks through the narrow streets a lime, passion, pineapple juice would be on my mind. Chapti (african fried tortilla) wraps, bunny chow, fresh pastas, smoothies galore.

I realize Zanzibar may not be at the top of everyone's travel list but don't shy away from passion fruit even if you can't get to the Indian Ocean.