Dragon Fruit’s (Pitaya) Taste and Benefits

If you haven’t heard of dragon fruit, it’s time to up your knowledge about one of this year’s must-eat superfoods.

Dragon fruit is a brightly colored, interesting-looking fruit that is grown in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Central and South America, and Israel. It’s also known by the name “pitaya.”

Dragon fruits come in beautiful, bright colors: pink skin with white flesh, pink skin with red flesh, and yellow skin with white flesh. While the name may not indicate it, dragon fruit actually comes from the cactus plant.

What Does Dragon Fruit Actually Taste Like?

Its skin is covered in scales, with dragon fruit’s taste stemming from the center of the fruit. Inside, you’ll also find lots of tiny black seeds, which are also edible.

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For some people dragon fruit tastes like a mix between a pear and a kiwi and for other like kiwi and melon. There is a slight difference in taste of the different varieties of dragon fruits.

What does pink dragon fruit taste like? Pink dragon fruits have a light and refreshing flavor with a hint of tang.

What does red dragon fruit taste like? Red dragon fruit is sweeter and tastes like raspberries. The red flesh fruit is richer in antioxidants and has a high content of soluble fiber.

Benefits of Dragon Fruit (Pitaya)

While you may just want to enjoy dragon fruit’s taste, you’ll be getting much more than that when you eat this fruit.

Dragon fruit is high in vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, fiber, and antioxidants. While the flesh of dragon fruit does not have any fat, the seeds and center contain some healthy monounsaturated fats and protein. Dragon fruits are also a good source of dietary fiber (about 10g per 100g of dragon fruit).

According to a recent study conducted by researchers at Malaysia University, half of the seeds of a single dragon fruit contain oleic acid. An essential fatty acid, oleic acid is known to help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol and raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “high”) cholesterol.

In Taiwan, doctors prescribe patients dragon fruits to help control blood sugar levels and regulate diabetes.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Choosing Dragon Fruit

To best enjoy dragon fruit’s taste, choose a dragon fruit that has even-colored skin; if its leaves are very dry or brown or its skin is filled with blotches of color, then it is overripe. The dragon fruit should feel firm, but not too firm, and not too soft, either.

How to Eat Dragon Fruit?

To enjoy dragon fruit’s taste, you should cut the fruit in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon, much like with an avocado or kiwi. You can eat the flesh as it is or cut it up into quarters. Also make sure to peel or cut off the skin.


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Sources:
Valya, “HOW TO CHOOSE THE TASTIEST DRAGON FRUIT,” Valyaboutenko web site, May 03, 2014;
http://valyaboutenko.com/how-to-choose-the-tastiest-dragon-fruit/

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