Hey guys, today I'd like to share some more of my recent trip to Fuerteventura with you 😊
Those of you familiar with my account will know that while I love to post about travel, food does seem to dominate my content, and makes an appearance in almost every post- today is no exception!
In my last post I shared my experience of exploring what delicious food I could enjoy on my first holiday as a vegan and marveled at the beautiful produce I found for sale. Today I'll show you one of the crazy local fruits I discovered there!
TUNO INDIO
When I first saw these I had no idea what they were- they looked like the oddest figs I'd ever seen and had a beautiful purple colour. I bought some, eager to sample this alien fruit.
When I started cutting them open I had no idea they contained a bright pink dye, similar to beetroot juice which exploded over my hands!
In fact the bright liquid stained my skin and nails and I had to wash my hands several times to get it off.
Once I opened the fruit I was suddenly excited. I have been searching high and low in London for the mysterious dragon fruit that I see all over Instagram and Pinterest but it still eludes me. Seeing the bright red fruit inside and the black seeds I was certain I had stumbled on a variety of this magical fruit.
I tucked in (staining my teeth and lips in the process), and although the flavour was really good, quite like a plum, and really juicy, I realised this wasn't a dragon fruit at all but something else altogether.
I took to google to find out what the Tuno Indio was and discovered that it is actually a relative of the prickly pear which grows on cacti in the Canary Islands. This explained the tiny spine that spiked my lip while eating it 😂
It turns out this little fruits are quite a versatile export, and are a popular ingredient in smoothies, jam and liqueurs due to their vibrant unique colour.
They aren't just pretty to look at however, some websites brand the Tuno Indo 'King of Fruits' due to it's numerous nutritional benefits.
This little fruit boasts more potassium than bananas or dates, as well as a nice dose of vitamin E, magnesium, calcium, vitamin K and countless other minerals and vitamins.
These species of cactus fruits are promoted for treating diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and hangovers and are also touted for their antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
I really got a taste for these crazy little fruits during my stay in Fuerteventura, and became better at eating them without staining everything in sight!