How to juice a prickly pear cactus
Visit the Boyce Thompson Arboretum this Labor Day for some prickly kind of fun. Apache Junction author Jean Groen (Foods of the Superstions) will teach guests how to harvest, squeeze and prepare the juice of the opuntia cactus.
Also known as the prickly pear, its magenta colored fruit has been used for centuries as a food source. The subtle but sweet tasting fruit is harvested throughout Arizona. At various restaurants, bars and gift shops throughout the state, including in Phoenix, you may see a prickly pear margarita on the menu or candy and jelly made from this cactus fruit on store shelves. At this class, you’ll learn about its nutritional value and get to sample prickly pear punch. Jean will also share recipes from her book.
Because it’s not easy to squeeze the juice out of the cactus, this informal, hour-long class is offered every year at the end of summer when the prickly pear fruit ripen to teach you. The prickly pear’s outer skin is covered in glochids and cactus spines that can be very painful to your hands if you don’t know what you’re doing.
No pre-registration required, and there is no extra charge to take the class. It’s open to all ages.
Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit Class
WHEN: Sept. 1 (Labor Day), 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 37615 U.S. Highway 60, Superior. Call 520-689-2811 for the recorded information line.
REGULAR HOURS: Open daily May, June, July & August, 6 a.m.-3 p.m.; Open daily September through April, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed on Christmas Day.
ADMISSION: $7.50, adults; $3, children ages 5-12; children under 5 are free.
Directions: Located off of Highway 60 at Milepost 223, the Arboretum makes a great stop on the way to Globe. You’ll pass the historic copper mining town of Superior first, about an hour east of Phoenix on the Superstition Freeway.
2 Comments
Jackie, did this remind you of the lessons in prickly pear picking Baloo the Bear shared with Mowgli in the Jungle Book? Okay…probably not. Maybe I should just go for the margarita part and sing songs from Disney musicals to myself!!
Mimi,
It’s good to know my post inspires memories of Disney. But if you do get a chance to visit the Arboretum, it’s pretty amazing. I like it better than the Phoenix Botantical Garden, but only because I think it’s easier to navigate.
Jackie