WHAT IS NOPAL?

Nopal cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) is native to Mexico. Cactus is a modified evergreen plant that grows well in semi-arid and desert climates. Cactus leaves are flat, oval, and pad shape stems. The plant may reach up to 3-4 m in height, in the cultivated farms their growth is truncated to about 1-1,5 m. Blooms begin to appear during the spring all along the sides of pads, which subsequently develop into pear shaped delicious "cactus fruits". Fruit measures about 5 cm in diameter and weigh about 75-100 g. Taste is like combination of watermelon and strawberry. The pads of almost all Opuntia species are edible. Nopal is popular in the United States for its health benefits, including the promise for treating inflammation and disease.

Nopales contain eight flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties. They are high in vitamin C, minerals, rich sources of dietary fiber. Nopal pads contain Vitamin A, the B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid, magnesium and calcium.

Available forms:

• eating the cactus directly
• capsule
• powder
• extract
• liquid form

It’s very interesting that Nopales are eaten as a vegetable and commonly found in restaurants, grocery stores, and farmers' markets across the American Southwest and Mexico. They can be sauteed and used in many dishes, including tacos, scrambled eggs or as a side dish with tomatoes and onions. Juice extracted from the fruit is a popular drink.