Passion Fruit (Granadilla) at Gobelo

Feb 27, 2025

Our dream? To see this delicious fruit grown across Zimbabwe. So far, we've proven that passion fruit isn’t just for fertile soils. Ours are flourishing even in sandy, nutrient-poor ground (with a little help from our animal fertilizers, of course). And these aren’t your usual purple granadillas. Ours are yellow! With a more vigorous vine and larger fruit than the purple variety, they’re as bold in appearance as they are in flavour.

It all started with just four or five seedlings, gifted by a friend in Victoria Falls. We propagated them, planted more and now we have a full-on passion fruit operation. They’re relatively low maintenance, grow fast and need trellises to climb on.

But if history is anything to go by, there’s always a twist when trying to grow anything at Gobelo. The monkeys - yes, the very same ones from our Gwango blogs - the sneaky little bandits who raided the greenhouse for cherry tomatoes, who patiently wait for the perfect moment to steal fruit right before harvest, are already eyeing our passion fruit. This time, we’re ready. Or at least, we think we are. The battle for the harvest is on! We’ll have to see who wins.

Aside from being delicious straight off the vine, passion fruit is a star ingredient at Gobelo Restaurant. Cocktails, desserts, you name it, it’s included in the recipe this season. And did we mention the flowers? They’re some of the most beautiful you’ll ever see. So not only is it great to look at, it also makes the whole experience a feast for the senses - the sweet, tangy flavour, the stunning blossoms and the excitement of knowing WE are growing something special right here in the heart of Gobelo. Whether it’s blended into a refreshing cocktail, drizzled over a decadent dessert, or simply enjoyed fresh from the vine, this fruit has truly found its home on the farm and on our plates. Now, if we can just keep the monkeys from getting to them first, we might actually enjoy the harvest ourselves!

Growing passion fruit has been another learning experience and like everything on the farm, it comes with surprises. Some vines have taken off faster than expected, weaving their way through trellises, while others seem to take their time, as if waiting for the perfect moment. And then there are the taste tests - sweet, tangy, and packed with flavour. It’s the kind of fruit that instantly makes you think of sunshine and lazy afternoons, a small but satisfying reward for all the work that goes into growing it.

First harvest, many lessons and plenty more to come. If this year is anything to go by, we’re just getting started.