Among the exotic fruits cultivated in European countries, the “prickly pear”, which grows on a cactus, holds a special place. This fruit, covered with thorns, originates from Central America and is now widely cultivated in several countries.

The fruit known as the “prickly pear” does not grow on the ordinary branches of a cactus, but on its flat and thorny leaves. The fruit has a reddish-pink appearance and is covered with very fine, tiny spines. For this reason, it is also known in some places as the “dragon fig”.

In the past, this fruit was one of the foods consumed by people living on islands. Among communities living in coastal regions, it is also known as the “island banana”.

The taste of the “prickly pear” resembles a combination of watermelon and kiwi. The fruit is soft and juicy, but the tiny spines on its surface require care when harvesting and eating it.

People usually wear gloves when harvesting the fruit or wrap it in paper before handling it. Before eating, the skin must be removed very carefully.

Farmers who supply “prickly pears” to the mass market use a special method to remove the tiny spines from the fruit. They place the harvested fruits in a nylon bag filled with water and shake it from side to side. As the fruits rub against one another, the fine spines on their surfaces are easily removed.

Thus, with its unusual appearance and distinctive taste, the “prickly pear” remains one of the exotic fruits attracting interest in different parts of the world.