Prickly pear cactus fruit, lime, honey & sparkling water
The prickly pear (tuna in Spanish) is the fruit of the Opuntia cactus, which has been growing in Mexico for thousands of years. Its magenta pigment — betacyanin — turns everything it touches a vivid fuchsia. The flavour is mild, melon-like, and subtly earthy.
Handle prickly pears with tongs and gloves — the skin has tiny hair-like spines (glochids) that are difficult to remove from skin. Ripe fruit is deep magenta-red and gives slightly when pressed. For a spiced version, add a pinch of cinnamon and cayenne.