Cactus or prickly pear is the delicious but risky fruit of a cactus. The sweet, juicy flesh ripens from green to a deep apricot-pink, deep rose, or even near violet in colour. It is sensible to use leather gloves when dealing with these fruit as they are covered in fine, penetrating prickles. They are normally eaten raw but can be cooked, with the edible seeds becoming hard with cooking. The juice, while refreshing and cooling, should be injested in small amounts as some people may experience chills and cramps in reaction to the cactus juice.
