Passion Fruit
Passion fruit delivers a tropical punch like no other. With its wrinkled purple shell and bright, jelly-like pulp inside, it surprises you at first glance—and even more with that bold, tangy-sweet flavor. Slice one open and you’re greeted by a fragrance that hints at sunshine, rainforest air, and something untamed. It’s the kind of fruit that doesn’t just sit quietly on a plate—it steals the spotlight in juices, desserts, and dishes around the world.
But passion fruit isn’t the only fruit that carries that familiar tropical look. All over the world, there are fruits with similar shapes, colors, and textures —close enough in appearance that they could easily be mistaken for passion fruit at a glance. Whether hanging on a vine or sitting in a market stall, these fruits echo the same roundness, size, and outer charm. They might not taste the same, but visually, they feel like part of the same exotic family.
1. Granadilla (Passiflora ligularis)
A close relative in both family and flair, granadilla looks like passion fruit’s sleeker twin. With its smooth, bright-orange skin and seedy, jelly-like interior, it mirrors the structure and spoonable pulp of passion fruit—but with a slightly gentler flavor and a floral touch that lingers.
2. Barbadine (Passiflora quadrangularis)
Known as the giant granadilla, this one takes the passion fruit look and scales it way up. Its thick skin opens to reveal a soft, aromatic pulp inside. While milder in flavor, it carries the same seed-filled jelly core that begs to be scooped out and savored.
3. Tamarillo
Also called the tree tomato, the tamarillo doesn’t belong to the passion fruit family—but visually, it’s easy to confuse the two. When cut open, its bold interior of juicy, seed-filled flesh echoes the passion fruit’s dramatic look. It leans more savory and tangy, but the experience of eating it feels oddly familiar.
4. Abiu
With its glossy yellow skin and translucent, jelly-like pulp, abiu may not look exactly like a passion fruit on the outside—but cut it open, and you’ll see why it’s on this list. Its custardy texture and mild sweetness make it a gentler, subtler version of passion fruit’s tart punch.
5.Maprang
Think of maprang as a small mango that looks like a loquat, but from a distance could fool you into thinking it’s a passion fruit. Its smooth orange skin and sweet, tangy flesh are reminiscent of passion fruit’s tropical charm, though it lacks the jelly-like seeds.
6. Bael
Bael has a tough, woody shell, but slice it open and you’ll find a sticky orange pulp filled with seeds. While earthier in taste and less juicy than passion fruit, the texture and seed-speckled center feel like a more ancient, rugged take on the same idea.
7. Keule
A rare Chilean fruit with a glowing yellow skin, Keule is not as juicy as a passion fruit, but it shares that same golden glow and a subtle citrusy sweetness. Its soft, custard-like flesh adds to the visual and textural overlap.
8. False Mastic / Yellow Mastic
False mastic grows as a small, round, yellow fruit that could easily pass for a passion fruit from afar. Its golden skin, firm shape, and tropical setting give off a similar visual vibe. While its flesh is drier, resinous, and not as widely consumed, the look alone—especially when hanging from the tree—makes it a convincing stand-in for a passion fruit in the wild.