The power of plants

Prickly pear (or "nopal”) is a tree-like plant in the cactaceae family that can reach a height of 5 meters. It is native to Central America and was later introduced everywhere the climate was favorable. Prickly pear can be consumed in many different forms—eaten raw, pressed into juice, distilled into an alcoholic drink, dried and made into a fruit paste, or cooked. It was exported to Europe in the 16th century by travelers who ate the fruit, rich in vitamin C, during their long sea voyages home.