Month: August 2009

The prickly pear cactus holds a unique position in nature. It is a fruit, vegetable and a flower and all parts of the plant are edible. Even the seed can be ground into flour. Also known as Indian fig, the plant produces food and medicine. Once it’s thorny exterior is tamed the prickly generously gives up nutrition, healing and a hot pink sweet-tart punch. Prickly pear grows wild in deserts throughout the west as well as Mexico, Columbia, Israel and Italy. It is characterized by thorny pads (nopales) with clumps of large flowers and juicy fruits (tunas) that appear in the fall. The tunas high in calcium, magnesium and potassium. They also contain antioxidant compounds. The plants medicinal properties are still being discovered. Some say that prickly is on it’s way to becoming a curative superstar.