Fruit bearing cacti

Joined : 28 Jun 2008 Posts : 34 Location : SEQ

does anyone have any edible fruit bearing cacti or has anyone read any references to cactus fruit being used?
We have a few Opuntias, ficus-indica of course (allways room for more), all the others are noxious weeds in Qld. Got a few Epi's that produce very nice fruit & the ubiquitous dragon fruits.

Subject: Re: Fruit bearing cacti Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:25 pm

I have a book of recipes for cactus fruit and pads and a friend makes a fantastic cactus wine!!

Subject: Re: Fruit bearing cacti Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:37 pm

Cereus Peruvianus has edible frut along with Trichocereus. I'm not sure how palitable they would be?

Hylo is the best for fruit I've seen.

Subject: Re: Fruit bearing cacti Sat Jul 12, 2008 12:43 am

cactus wine? sounds nice. to bad i dont drink anymore. i wouldnt mind trying to make it though, does your friend have a recipe gracie?

Subject: Re: Fruit bearing cacti Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:42 am

many species have nice fruit. Cereus, trichocereus, hylocereus, myrtillocactus, opuntia sellinocereus (i always forget the spelling of that one!) etc. i think all cacti fruits are likely at least -ok- tasting, just gotta find a nice fleshy one that is big Smile

Hellonasty, i think so too...dragon fruit is ...........................................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........................

Joined : 28 Jun 2008 Posts : 34 Location : SEQ

Im a bit cautious about Trich's given what some Ppl use them for, happy to use them for grafting stocks though. You can "improve" the flavor of at least some by keeping the water up to them and feeding some sulphate of potash, definately works with Epi's & Cereus Sp? (no idear which Cereus it is but the fruit taste like lemon mango)
Whats the title of your book Gracie? sounds like it could be a winner with the boss.
Currently i have plants and or seedlings of hylocereus undatus "red flesh", (i'd still like to get the white fleshed one); Selenicereus megalanthus; Cereus hexagonus, C pitahaya, Cjamacaru; Myrtillocactus geometrizans, M schenkii, M cochal,
M eichlamii; Stenocereus queretaroensis, Neoraimondia herzogiana; Lemaireocereus thurberi a couple of Echinocereus and a few assorted Epi's, Pilocereus and Opuntias. We've even tried a few Mamm's; be carefull of the milky sapped ones.

Subject: Re: Fruit bearing cacti Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:24 pm

Trichocereus spachianus is about the only tricho i have found to have nice fruit, the rest are pretty bland imo. I like cereus fruit, there is an exceptional one at Fields garden.

Subject: Re: Fruit bearing cacti Sat Jul 12, 2008 3:16 pm

Cereus jamacaru have good fruit Smile

i have not tried C. peruvianus but i assume its similar

Subject: Re: Fruit bearing cacti Sat Jul 12, 2008 3:47 pm

Mammillaria fruit is edible, most taste like somewhat like strawberries ranging from very bland to delicious. The flowers of Mammillarias are also edible and often taste very sweet provided you get the whole flower. the base usually has nectar.
I have also tried the fruit of melocactus and it was alright.
Also Epithelantha fruit is okay, some people claim you can get certain effects from consuming heaps but this bulls*it. I'd rather keep the seeds for sowing. I am also a tad cautious about Trichs in general other than as grafting stocks to mate... i did try T.spachianus and it tasted alright. hylocereus undatus is of course good and the yellow/white fruited one is supposed to be even better.
the best cactus fruit of all is reputed to be that of Echinocereus stramineus.

Joined : 28 Jun 2008 Posts : 34 Location : SEQ

Would love to get a cutting from the exceptional Cereus from Fields garden PD.
Interesting to hear about the Epithelantha, bugger though, i gave away all but 2 of my seedlings because i wasnt game to try them.
Selenicereus is very good allthough a good clone of H undatus is better, the yellows are far too sweet for my taste. The kids love em though.
There does seem to be a huge amount of variation from clone to clone, out of the 5 Mamm bocasana seedling we kept, 4 tasted like sweet nothing but the 5th tastes like pineapple/banana.
Apparently my next mission is to make a seperator so the we can have speck free jams, fruit leathers & cordials & i can keep the seed.

Subject: Re: Fruit bearing cacti Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:24 pm

Joined : 28 Jun 2008 Posts : 34 Location : SEQ

I'm just very suspect of any plant that produces latex. after all its a chemical deterant to stop things eating it, they dont often poison their fruits but id rather not find out which is which by sticking it in my mouth.
There is lots of conflicting info out there so when it comes to latex & alkaloids Discretion is the better part of valor.
I'll just stick to looking at the latex producing Mamm's.

Subject: Re: Fruit bearing cacti Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:39 pm

Oh phew... i eat my acceptable tasting Mammillaria mystax fruit and flowers occassionally and it has white latex. no ill effects there. I doubt even the milky sap of these is poisonous, they aren't euphorbias or anything. although admittedly i wouldn't be the first to volunteer to drink the latex, only eat the fruit. MmmMmmammillaria. Smile

Subject: Re: Fruit bearing cacti Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:24 pm

recipe book is from the american cactus and succulent society 1978.

as we are talking about optunia subulata...
small round sections of opuntia subulata taken at the stem tip make a decorative as well as tasty addition to a green or vegetable salad.
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The new tender shoots of Trichocereuss spachianus, peeled and diced can be added to a vegetable salad.
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Epiphyllum salad.
the peeled red fruit of Epiphyllums especially" Rosetta" make a delicious addition to fruit and vegetable salads.
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Night Blooming CEREI
The ripe fruit, peeled, of the Night Blooming CEREI can be used in fruit and vegetable salads, for added colour and flavour.
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(submitted to recipe book by Mrs "Cactus Pete")
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Torch CACTUS sorbet.
Use a basic icecream or sherbet recipe, mixing in a blender, then adding the frozen fruits of Trichocereus spachianus. when smooth and creamy, eat at once.
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Strawberries.
most of the Echinocereus species fruitts are juicy, rich in sugar, and may be eaten like strawberries.
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Cereus Peruvianus candied fruit peel.
Remove peel from fruit, cut into small strips and wash. Place in a pan in a small amount of water. For 2 cups peel add 1 and half cups sugar. Cook slowly. when cooked enough to be transparent, and the syrup is thick, take strips of peel out of pan, separate and lay on wax paper to dry out. turn over several times until dry enought to handle.
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these are just a few, there are lots fro Opuntia pads and fruit. jams, omlettes, patties , cakes, breads, salads, drinks etc.
hope this makes members try some .. me I cant wait to try my opuntia pads.
that s one way to keep the plant size under control.

Subject: Re: Fruit bearing cacti Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:03 pm

this link has very good information on cactus fruits.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cacti/msg0618271414150.html