TheMooseZeus Posted December 4, 2018 Hey all! I'm looking at growing prickly pear as a hardy edible, I know they are considered weeds in Aus but was wondering which species of Prickly Pear people prefer as a food source -Thanks all! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
withdrawl clinic Posted December 4, 2018 (edited) I know this cacti from south America & from oz... 1st time I ate, I did not remove the skin, and down it went, with the "spines & glochids". because I did not heed the warnings... crunch the seeds, that's the protein. edit: there are cactus figs around with less spines, they are preferred... Edited December 4, 2018 by withdrawl clinic Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheMooseZeus Posted December 4, 2018 Just now, withdrawl clinic said: I know this cacti from south America & from oz... 1st time I ate, I did not remove the skin, and down it went, with the "spines & glochids". because I did not heed the warnings... crunch the seeds, that's the protein. Ahhhh how did that go?! I'm more inclined to eat the fruit than the spines! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
withdrawl clinic Posted December 4, 2018 4 minutes ago, TheMooseZeus said: Ahhhh how did that go?! I'm more inclined to eat the fruit than the spines! but the spines give you, immortality, 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheMooseZeus Posted December 4, 2018 Just now, withdrawl clinic said: but the spines give you, immortality, If you start with smaller spines and consume bigger and bigger spines you build an immunity to being impaled, well known fact. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MountainGoat Posted December 5, 2018 the best fruits ("tuna" in spanish) that i've come across are robusta, torrence and cow's tongue (engelmannii). I've heard that the absolutely best is the Burbank's eating one, its a spiny bugger - not the spineless, but i haven't yet tried it... hopefully it'll fruit this season... Also, the ficus indicus has decent fruits, huge pads, and is relatively common... but the fruits aren't in the same league as the one's i first mentioned... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterboy 2.0 Posted December 5, 2018 Don't forget you can eat the pads.... Slice them up like beans 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
withdrawl clinic Posted December 5, 2018 1 hour ago, waterboy 2.0 said: Don't forget you can eat the pads.... Slice them up like beans super survival food, I like mine stone grilled! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt1208 Posted December 5, 2018 2 hours ago, waterboy 2.0 said: Don't forget you can eat the pads.... Slice them up like beans can pads of all species be eaten ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auxin Posted December 8, 2018 Yes. Different species might be more or less sour and lemony and you might even find some with crunchy calcium oxalate druses, but all are technically edible. And the reports of mescaline rich Opuntias are myths borne out of a quickly retracted typo, so you dont have to worry about turning the corner and being surprised by God ;) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
