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Opuntia
Currently, only prickly pears are included in this genus of about 200[1] species distributed throughout most of the Americas. Chollas are now separated into the genus Cylindropuntia, which some still consider a subgenus of Opuntia. Austrocylindropuntia, Corynopuntia and Micropuntia are also often included in the present genus, but like Cylindropuntia they seem rather well distinct. Brasiliopuntia and Miqueliopuntia are closer relatives of Opuntia. The most commonly culinary species is the Indian Fig Opuntia (O. ficus-indica). Most culinary uses of the term "prickly pear" refer to this species. Prickly pears are also known as "tuna", "nopal" or nopales, from the Nahuatl word nōpalli for the pads, or nostle, from the Nahuatl word nōchtli for the fruit; or paddle cactus (from the resemblance to the ball-and-paddle toy). This and similar species are native to Mexico.
Spotted on Jul 28, 2009
Submitted on Aug 20, 2011
3 Comments
They were alright - nothing special - more of a tourist thing. Didn't care for the liquor.
@Amber, I think they do that in the Caribbean as well. Never tried though, is it any good?
When I lived in Lanzarote they called them cactus apples and the made jams, jellies and liqueur out of them.