Prickly Pear: Nature’s Healing Fruit
Prickly pear, a plant that grows naturally along the coastlines of the Mediterranean and Aegean regions, attracts attention especially in the summer season. This fruit, which belongs to the cactus family, stands out with its many health benefits.
10 TL each
Prickly pear is known for its immune-boosting effect and digestive benefits. This fruit, known by different names such as ‘Indian fig’ or ‘Frankish fig’ depending on the region it grows in, is currently sold for 10 TL per piece.
With the start of the season, this fruit is offered for sale in mobile stalls in the city center, cooled in ice cube trays or cold water. After the thorny shell is carefully cleaned, this delicious fruit, known among the public as a ‘source of healing’, is consumed with great pleasure by those looking for a refreshing drink.
Benefits of Prickly Pear
Prickly pears stand out with their properties of increasing body resistance and supporting the digestive system. You can find this fruit on almost every street corner in Adana and it is consumed especially in the summer months. The thorny shell is carefully cleaned and it is offered for sale by cooling it between ice cube trays on mobile stands.
This cactus fruit, which has a sweet and slightly sour flavor, contains many antioxidants and minerals along with vitamins C and B. It can be consumed fresh or in different ways. Prickly pear, which is considered to be among the healthiest fruits worldwide, is a food source recommended by Ibn-i Sina many years ago.
This fruit, which is collected from cacti that ripen in the summer, is carefully collected by farmers. It should be harvested early in the morning so that the thorns do not cause damage. This careful harvesting process is of great importance in preserving the quality and freshness of the fruit.
