Mammillaria compressa fruits

Created by popular request. Share what you know about man's past and present use of cacti.
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ElieEstephane
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Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)

Mammillaria compressa fruits

Post by ElieEstephane »

I picked some of the fruits today (which always mysteriously appear overnight) and tasted them. I expected them to taste strawberry-ish like other mammillarias but oddly enough, they tasted like green sour apples. It was weird eating something juicy tasting like apples
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There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a) :mrgreen:
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DesertSun
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Joined: Sun Feb 11, 2018 5:33 pm
Location: Zone 9b

Re: Mammillaria compressa fruits

Post by DesertSun »

Thank you for sharing Elie, I love this kind of information!!!
"The best fertilizer is the gardener's own shadow"
Chinese proverb
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hegar
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Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:04 am
Location: El Paso, Texas

Re: Mammillaria compressa fruits

Post by hegar »

You are a lot braver than most of us. I have not sampled many of the cactus fruits present each year on my plants. Although I know, that most - if not all of them - are edible. I did sample two or three of my prickly pear species, just to find out, what could be the reason, that my box turtles prefer it over the others that I have fed them. Also, I wanted to figure out, which one is the tastiest for human consumption.
Another plant's fruit (Echinocereus enneacanthus) I just needed to try, because it does have the name "strawberry cactus". I was actually a bit surprised, because its fruit and supposedly that of the cactus Echinocereus stramineus do have a flavor that reminds you of eating strawberries.
The latter has yet to flower for me, but I shall definitely eat its fruit, once it is being produced.
As part of the activities carried out by our local cactus and rock club, we do have a fellow, who is called the "cactus gourmet cook". He prepares various meals, which include cactus parts, mostly Opuntia pads and fruits, which he then serves to the audience. He produces both vegetable dishes and desserts, that include cactus parts.

Harald
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ElieEstephane
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Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:10 am
Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)

Re: Mammillaria compressa fruits

Post by ElieEstephane »

Hello harald. I'm glad you found this interesting. I also tried mammillaria karwinskiana fruit which tasted like grapes and mammillaria backerbegiana which tasted very sour but tasty. Today i will try mammillaria spinosissima and this gymno fruit which is supposed to be very delicious.
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I have a lot of notocactus and echinopsis fruit but they are too hairy for my taste so i stick to mammillaria mostly.
Prickly pears are very common here and it's my #1 favorite fruit. They sell for 6 per 1$ but i grow my own now. I tried grilling a young pad with cheese. The result was not bad... sort off tasted like mix of green beans and broccoli.
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a) :mrgreen:
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Licespray
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Re: Mammillaria compressa fruits

Post by Licespray »

I wonder if you let them shrivel up they’d go to the strawberry taste?
Ferocactus best cactus :mrgreen:
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