Prickly Perfection

When people think of Arizona, they usually think “cactus.”

A variety of cacti cover the Sonoran Desert, from the tiny fishhook cactus to the towering saguaros that can reach 30 to 40 feet tall. These cacti were important in early Native American cultures, and continue to be a vital part of modern Arizona. As owner Tamara Stanger of Tempe’s Cotton & Copper restaurant explains, “Cactus is the elusive sixth ‘C’ of Arizona: Copper, Cattle, Cotton, Citrus, Climate and Cactus.”

A PRICKLY TRADITION

Early Native American tribes in the Saguaro Desert used cacti for food, tools and medicine. The towering saguaro produces fruit each summer, which was used to make preserves and a syrup for a fermented wine. The seeds were ground to make flour. Even the internal frames of the saguaro—the ribs—were used for fences, musical instruments and arrows.

Another popular Arizona cactus is the prickly pear or nopal cactus. It has large, flat pads covered in needles and produces a bright pink fruit at summer’s end. Native Americans harvested the fruit and created a syrup to make jellies and candy. The pads, or nopales, were cut into strips for eating. Additionally, the tribes used the gel inside the nopales as an ointment for injuries.

USING CACTI TODAY

The prickly pear is Arizona’s most popular cactus. The brightly colored fruit is high in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber. According to Kathleen Zeratsky of Mayo Clinic, initial studies show that prickly pear cactus can lower blood sugar levels for those with Type 2 diabetes. You can now find cacti, both prickly pear and others, used in spa treatments, food, drinks and even furniture. The popular cactus candy—readily available at airport shops—is a fun treat, but there are many other great ways to experience cacti around the Valley.

RELAX AND UNWIND

Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass is a Native Americanowned luxury hotel on the Gila River Indian Community in Chandler. The resort’s Aji Spa offers a variety of spa treatments that use indigenous ingredients. One of those, HO’ISHP, is the Sacred Prickly Pear Body Treatment. Developed with the tribe’s cultural leaders, this 110- minute treatment begins with an application of clay that contains prickly pear. It continues with a prickly pear and aloe massage oil and a prickly pear gel to seal in moisture.

A TASTE OF ARIZONA CACTUS

There are many restaurants in Arizona that utilize cacti on their menus. One of those is Chef Stanger’s Cotton & Copper. Stanger frequently incorporates cacti in her weekly specials.

“Most wild cactus ingredients are not available yearround, so I use them as they become available,” she explains. “I like to forage within the seasons, especially cactus such as cholla for its cholla buds and barrel for its fruit. When possible, I dry the buds and fruit and use them throughout the winter.”

Stanger also uses the nopales, which are available all year. You can try a variety of cacti in the O’odham Tepary Bean Spread on her menu. Served with house made chips, the spread includes saguaro seed, barrel cactus seed, native tepary beans and desert-foraged cactus fruit and berries.

One of the best meals in Arizona is at Kai, the state’s only AAA 5-Diamond and Forbes 5-Star restaurant. Located at Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, Kai serves a creative menu inspired by traditional native ingredients. A popular item is grilled buffalo served with a saguaro blossom syrup and cholla buds. Finish the meal with an explosion of cactus by ordering the exquisitely plated native cactus. A frozen prickly pear parfait sits on a beautiful nopales consommé. The dish includes cholla, barrel fruit and saguaro.

For a casual poolside meal featuring cacti, grab a table at Omni Scottsdale’s Taqueria Centro. Enjoy desert flavors with the squash blossom tacos or the protein bowl, both of which contain raw nopale.

A SPIRITED TASTE OF CACTUS

Prickly pear syrup is popular in drinks, especially margaritas. The fruit adds a bright magenta color and a balance of sweet and citrus-like flavor. Stop by Joyride Taco House in Phoenix or Gilbert to sample a perfectly balanced prickly pear margarita.

Prickly pear beer is also popular, especially in fall. The Phoenix Ale Brewery offers a seasonal Prickly Pear Blonde. Sample a prickly pear cider—the Lady “in pink” Liberty—at Cider Corps in downtown Mesa.

Three Wells Distilling Company crafts three prickly pear spirits. Three Wells offers an un-aged Sonora Silver, a Sonora Copper aged in charred American White Oak, and a two-year aged Sonora Gold. Add the spirits to cocktails or drink it on the rocks. Three Wells spirits are available at Total Wine & More.

UP-CLOSE TO ARIZONA CACTI

Take a walk amid Arizona’s cacti at Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. This beautiful preserve gives visitors a chance to see thousands of cacti and learn about their uses and benefits.

Walk the Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert Loop Trail at the garden to see the part cacti played in traditional cultures. On your way out, stop at the garden shop to pick up prickly pear products—jelly, salad dressing, syrup, tea, margarita mix and candy—to take home a bit of the Arizona desert.

BY SUSAN LANIER-GRAHAM