Prickly pears are one of those fruits that can feel completely ordinary if you grow up around them, yet surprisingly unfamiliar once you leave places where they grow abundantly. They were never particularly exotic to me, but I gradually realised that they are a fruit many people have never tasted, or sometimes have never even seen before.
The flavour is difficult to describe, and I find it can vary slightly from one prickly pear to another. When blended into a drink like this, I think the flavour is particularly refreshing, with something that reminds me of watermelon and perhaps a subtle hint of strawberry, although it is one of those fruits where everyone seems to taste something slightly different. It is lovely simply eaten as it is, but prickly pears contain a lot of small seeds, so when you have several of them, turning them into a drink is an easy way to enjoy all that fresh fruit without having to deal with quite so many seeds.
For this recipe, I add fresh ginger and lemon, giving the drink a little of the bright, citrusy character you might associate with lemonade, while still letting the prickly pear be the main flavour. The result is light, refreshing and fruity, with just enough ginger to give it a gentle warmth and a little extra zing.
I chose pink prickly pears because I wanted that beautiful, vivid colour in the finished drink, but you can use any variety you have available. The most important thing is that they are ripe and sweet. Prickly pears that are naturally very sweet need very little added to them, and you can leave the honey out completely if you prefer a lighter drink. Without it, this is more like a sparkling fruit drink: fresh, slightly tangy and not overly sweet. If your prickly pears are less sweet, a little honey can balance the flavour beautifully. I also love the combination of honey, lemon and ginger here, so even when the fruit is sweet enough on its own, a small amount of honey can add another layer of flavour.
Making the drink is very simple. The prickly pears are blended with a little water, then strained to remove the seeds and any remaining pulp. The strained juice is combined with lemon, ginger and honey before being topped with sparkling water and plenty of ice. It is an easy way to turn a handful of ripe prickly pears into something a little different.
