Passion Fruit and Mango Smoothie

This drink is like Africa (or at least Tanzania and Kenya) in a tumbler. There are very few things that have reminded me as much of those places as the first sip I took of this drink. It is wonderfully fresh, slightly tangy but still sweet. The perfect summer drink. During our travels in East Africa we often buy mango- and passion juice and it is always freshly made. Also, so many times we have come back from our morning safaris, a little tired (after waking up early) but so excited after the morning's adventure, spotting lions eating their breakfast or elephants, lions and even leopards. On arrival back at our lodge we are often greeted with a freshly squeezed juice. What a way to start a day! This drink is also extremely healthy because the mango has antioxidants, fibre, vitamins A, K and E and contains potassium (just like bananas) which plays a part in keeping our blood pressure in check. Passion fruits are similarly healthy. Note that when you pick the passion fruits (you will find them in larger supermarkets, in the fruit section), pick the ones that are slightly wrinkled but feel heavy for their size. They don't look nice but don't worry, they taste amazing when ripe. If you don't like the pitted seeds you can press the fruit through a sieve. The seeds are edible and contain fibre so are very good for you. Passion fruit comes in several varieties, I normally use the dark brownish-purple one (native from southern Brazil through Paraguay to northern Argentina).