Introduction
Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya or pitahaya, is a tropical fruit that is native to Central and South America. It is a member of the cactus family and has a unique appearance with its bright pink skin and green scales. The flesh of the fruit is white or red and contains small black seeds. Dragon fruit is a nutrient-rich fruit that is high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It has a sweet and slightly sour flavor and can be eaten fresh or used in a variety of recipes. Dragon fruit is becoming increasingly popular due to its health benefits and unique flavor.
What is Dragon Fruit?
Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya or pitahaya, is a tropical fruit that is native to Central and South America. It is a member of the cactus family and is grown in many parts of the world. The fruit has a unique appearance, with a bright pink or yellow skin and a white or red flesh. It has a sweet, mild flavor and is often used in smoothies, salads, and desserts.
Dragon fruit is high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is a good source of vitamin C, magnesium, and iron. It also contains antioxidants, which can help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. The fruit is low in calories and fat, making it a healthy snack.
Dragon fruit is easy to prepare and can be eaten fresh or cooked. It can be added to smoothies, salads, and desserts. It can also be used to make jams, jellies, and sauces. The fruit can also be dried and used as a topping for yogurt or ice cream.
Dragon fruit is a delicious and nutritious fruit that can be enjoyed in many different ways. It is a great addition to any diet and can help provide essential vitamins and minerals to the body.
Dragon fruit (or pitaya) is a scrumptious tropical fruit native to Mexico and Central America. Its style profile is sort of a mixture of a kiwi and a pear.
Desk of Contents
- Forms of dragon fruit
- Hylocereus undatus
- Hylocereus polyrhizus
- Hylocereus guatemalensis
- Hylocereus megalanthus
- Choice
- Diet
From the genus Hylocereus, there are numerous species of the edible fruit that grows on evening flowering cactus. They’re harvested in heat and humid climates like Mexico, South America, Central America, South East Asia, the Caribbean, and elements of the USA like Florida.
Yow will discover them at specialty grocery shops, Asian and Latin markets. They’re nice to make use of in a smoothie as they’ve a gentle, candy style, with just a little tartness, letting the tropical style dominate. While you take a chunk, the pulp has the same texture to kiwi and pear, particularly the crunchy black seeds.
Forms of dragon fruit
There are 4 widespread culinary crops of dragon fruit or pitaya which you can buy. Relying on the cultivar, you most frequently see the intense pink-skinned varieties, which is troublesome to inform the flesh coloration with out opening it up, and yellow-skinned dragon fruit is rarer.
Hylocereus undatus
Magenta pores and skin, inexperienced leaves, white flesh, and small black seeds. Generally grown in South East Asia, Central America, and Mexico, best to search out in markets.
Hylocereus polyrhizus
Magenta pores and skin, inexperienced leaves, reddish-pink flesh, and small black seeds, bigger in measurement than Hylocereus undatus species. Excessive in antioxidants on account of its purple pigment within the pulp. Most frequently grown in South America, costlier, mostly discovered within the freezer part.
Hylocereus guatemalensis
Magenta pores and skin, inexperienced leaves, purple flesh, and small black seeds. From Central America, grows massive with candy flesh.
Hylocereus megalanthus
Also referred to as Selenicereus megalanthus. Yellow pores and skin, white flesh, and small black seeds. Native to South America, which grows smaller in measurement, sweetest style and smaller in measurement, and is more durable to search out in shops.
Choice
The fruit’s peak season is in the summertime months till early fall. Since they’re grown world wide, there’s an excellent likelihood you will discover them year-round. When deciding on a dragon fruit, search for vibrant coloured pores and skin and leaves, with even pigmentation.
When flippantly squeezed, it needs to be agency however not exhausting and have a slight give. Any brown spots, dried stems and leaves, or tender spots are an indication of it being too ripe. Their pores and skin could be very skinny making them comparatively straightforward to chop open.
Diet
In 1 ¼-cup (140 grams) of diced purple dragon fruit, there are roughly 80 energy, 2 grams of protein, 13 grams of carbohydrates, 10 grams of sugar, 3 grams of fiber, 2 grams of fats, 43 mg calcium, 2 mg iron, 426 mg potassium, and 56 mg magnesium [1].