Dragon fruit is the queen of fruit. The striking pink skin and scale-like texture really make it look like something out of Game of Thrones. When you cut this deliciously juicy fruit open, you see the fruit that looks somewhat alien.
But what is on everyone’s mind when it comes to this fruit, the one question that everyone has on their mind is, what does it taste like? In this article, we are going to go over everything you need to know about this fruit.
From what it tastes like to where it originated and more. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in and get started!
Dragon Fruit – What Exactly Is It?
Dragon fruit is a delicious tropical fruit that originated in South America. It is a fruit that grows from a cactus, and it is known for its vibrant pink or red coloring. This fruit gets its name from the yellowish or greenish scales that cover the exterior of this fruit.
As such, it looks a little like a dragon’s egg. The outside of this fruit is a vibrant pink or red with green-tipped scales. But, the inside is white or light pink with thousands of black seeds inside.
Dragon fruit is not only beautifully bright-colored and delicious, but it is also packed full of beneficial nutrients. It is packed full of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B, Phosphorus, Calcium, and more.
As we have already said, this fruit originated in South America, where it is believed that this fruit grew plentifully. Mexico and Panama are both especially well known for growing dragon fruit.
Since then, this fruit has grown in various other parts of the world like Peru and Ecuador. Even as far back as the 1900s, this fruit was brought over to Southeast Asia by the French colonists that went there.
The warm and humid climate there was perfect for growing this delicious fruit. So, as you might expect, these fruits became very popular in those Southeast Asian countries.
But, the popularity of this fruit spread even further, and soon, countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Africa, Israel, India, and Australia. Cactus plants grow in the desert, or very arid climates, at least. As such, they are known for being able to survive on very little water.
In fact, if you are trying to grow these plants at home, we recommend not using too much water as this can easily kill your dragon fruit. That being said, these plants are very easy to care for and can easily be grown at home.
What Is The Flavor Of Dragon Fruit Like?
Now you have to ask yourself, what does this delicious, sweet, succulent fruit taste like? It is such a strange and exotic-looking fruit, which makes people wonder what on earth it tastes like.
There are several varieties of dragon fruit, as such the flavor can vary a little depending on which one you have at hand. Some of the varieties can be on the sweeter side, while others are a little tarter.
Most people describe dragon fruit to taste like a combination of kiwi fruit and pear fruit. The texture is a little like kiwi in the way that both fruits have hoards of tiny black seeds scattered in the flesh of the fruit.
Dragon fruit, surprisingly, is not a very acidic fruit. But, in some varieties, it can have a mildly acidic taste. The reason for this acidic flavor is the citric acid that dragon fruit contains. It is this component that gives dragon fruit the mildly tangy flavor that everyone loves.
How Can Dragon Fruit Benefit You?
Firstly, you need to know that Dragon Fruit is extremely healthy for you. For example, this fruit is packed full of vitamin C, antioxidants, and a ton of other beneficial nutrients that are good for you and can even benefit your immune system.
But there is more, this fruit also helps your body to absorb more iron, perfect for those of you that are anemic. As you may know, iron is essential for the human body. It is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body and helping to give you more energy.
It is in fact the vitamin C that helps your body take up and accumulate iron. But, don’t take our word for it. The NCBI has done studies on Dragon Fruit.
They analyzed it and compared it to the chemo-preventive potential and the chemical composition of a range of Israeli and Thai fruits. The results indicated that dragon fruit that was grown and harvested in Israel tended to have more significant antioxidant levels.
Thai dragon fruit on the other hand did not have extraordinary levels. What this indicated was that where dragon fruit grows can impact the biology of the fruit and can make this fruit even healthier.
They also found that the consumption of dragon fruit could become a significant part of your diet. Especially for its high antioxidant, and chemo-preventative potential. These nutrients are even capable of helping your body prevent colon cancer cells.
Dragon Fruit – The Nutritional Facts
Well, now you know that dragon fruit can be highly beneficial for your body. The nutrients are nothing short of miraculous. But, to really get a full idea of just how beneficial this fruit is, you need to check out a full list of the nutrients.
For example, did you know that this fruit is very low in calories while also maintaining a significantly high fiber content. But, that is not all, there are a ton of nutrients in this fruit. You can see the main nutrient facts and information below:
- Calories – Per serving, there is about 102 kcal in dragon fruit.
- Fat – There are zero grams of fat in dragon fruit.
- Carbohydrates – There are about twenty-two grams of carbs per serving.
- Fiber – There are approximately five grams of fiber per serving of this fruit.
- Protein – Per serving there are about two grams of protein in dragon fruit.
- Sugar – There are about thirteen grams of sugar per serving of dragon fruit.
On top of that, there is also a range of beneficial vitamins and minerals in this fruit. Some of these include the following: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Betalains, Hydroxycinnamates, Flavonoids, and more. This is a very healthy fruit and one that will certainly help you look and feel better.
Is Eating Dragon Fruit Healthy And Beneficial?
As you must know by this point, dragon fruit is remarkably beneficial for your health. But just how good is this fruit for you? The high numbers of vitamins and minerals in dragon fruit can do a lot to help improve your health.
Fiber is also a very beneficial part of this fruit. It can help you to regulate your digestion. The minerals are also very good for you and can boost your immune system while also keeping your skin healthy.
The low caloric content is one reason so many people adore this fruit and enjoy it as a snack. Especially if they are trying to lose weight. So, what are some of the other health benefits of consuming this fruit? Check out some of the most notable ones below:
- Dragon fruit has a lot of highly beneficial nutrients in it.
- This fruit is rich in healthy antioxidants.
- This fruit is fat-free while also being high in fiber.
- It may help fight chronic disease.
- Dragon fruit is excellent for boosting your immune system.
- It is a fantastic source of magnesium.
- It can boost your iron levels.
But, there is so much more than this fruit can do for you. It is insanely good for you. So, if you have the option, you should absolutely incorporate it into your diet. The question is, are there any downsides to this fruit?
Are There Any Side Effects Of Eating Dragon Fruit?
One of the main side effects seen with this variety of fruit is the allergic reaction that some people have. Other than that, this fruit tends to be safe to eat for most people to eat.
Allergic reactions seen as a result of eating this fruit include some of the following symptoms: swollen tongue, hives, and vomiting. These are the most common symptoms of an allergic reaction to dragon fruit.
But, there are some rare symptoms that you might see in someone that is allergic to dragon fruit. Another rarer side effect of eating dragon fruit could be that your urine changes color. It might become a pink or mild red color.
This is not usually a serious side effect. You might see the same thing happen if you eat a lot of beetroot. So, do not be alarmed. When the dragon fruit has passed through your system, everything should go back to normal.
What Different Types Of Dragon Fruit Are There?
As we have mentioned, there are different types of dragon fruit. In fact, there are three common varieties that we know of. All of which look and taste a little different from each other. These main varieties of dragon fruit are as follows:
- Hylocereus Costaricensis – This fruit is also known as Pitaya Roja, it is a red-fleshed pitaya. This is where the name comes from.
- Hylocereus Megalanthus – This dragon fruit is a yellow-fleshed fruit, which is why it is known as the yellow pitaya.
- Hylocereus Undatus – Otherwise known as Pitaya Blanca, this variety of dragon fruit has white flesh, which is where he gets the name.
There are other types of dragon fruit. But these three are the main ones that you might encounter at your local supermarket.
What Is The Best Way To Eat Dragon Fruit?
You can eat dragon fruit as it is or by turning it into something else entirely, like wine or juice, for example. The best way to eat this fruit is as follows:
- Cut this fruit diagonally using a sharp knife.
- Next, cut the fruit into little cubes. You can do this by using a spoon to make horizontal cuts into the flesh of the fruit. Take care not to go through the peel while you do this. Use your fingers to push the fruit inside out so that you can more easily slice off the cubes that you have scored with the spoon.
- All that is left now is to eat your fruit. You can enjoy it in a fruit salad, in a smoothie, with some yogurt, on its own, or in any other way you can think of.
This is a delicious fruit that you can easily prepare in any way that you like. Our favorite way to enjoy this fruit is on its own. You really get a taste of the unique and delicious flavor this way.
Final Thoughts
To sum everything up, dragon fruit has a delectable sweet and kind of citrusy flavor. It is a very juicy fruit which makes it perfect to enjoy in a smoothie, part of a fruit salad, or even in a dessert of your choice.
The best way to describe the flavor of dragon fruit is a combination of a pear fruit and kiwi fruit. Sweet, soft, and just a little tartness. This is a highly nutritional tropical fruit that looks gorgeous and even tastes better.
Dragon fruit is a native fruit to Central and South America, but it is grown around the world. If you are slicing up fresh dragon fruit for yourself, it will last just a few days. So, use it while it is fresh, or risk ruining your experience with this delicious fruit.
You can enjoy this fruit in a ton of different ways including juice, desserts, wine, fruit salad, and many other ways. But what really makes this fruit stand out is its nutritional value.
It contains compounds that act a little like antioxidants, which are highly beneficial to the body and even help to protect it. You can grow dragon fruit at home, but it will take some time to do so.
Between six and eight months should result in a fully grown plant that will produce fruit. If you have enjoyed reading this article, make sure to check out our site. We have a range of interesting, educational, and useful articles there.
Some of which are bound to suit your needs. So, take a moment out of your day to learn more about different foods. Thanks for reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section we are going to answer some of your most frequently asked questions regarding dragon fruit, what it tastes like, and more.
Yes! Dragon fruit actually grows on a plant that is known for being a climbing cactus. As such, if you are going to grow this fruit at home, we recommend that you set up support for this plant if you want to grow it at home.
You may also want to provide support for the aerial roots which will grow at the end of the branches. This is because these roots will need a place to latch onto so that the cactus plant can climb.
There are a lot of species of cacti in South America that produce something called pitayas or pitahayas. In other words, pitahaya is a fruit that is grown from a cactus. Like dragon fruit, for example.
Dragon fruit is a cactaceae fruit that comes from the plant family genus of Stenocereus. A pitahaya on the other hand is something like a strawberry pear is a cactaceae that comes from the plant family of the Selenicereus genus.
Dragon fruit is a very healthy fruit that can be beneficial for weight loss. Particularly for people with type two diabetes. This is because it can help to regulate blood sugar levels, which in turn can help you to feel fuller for longer. By extension, this can help you to lose weight.
One of the telltale signs that your dragon fruit is ripe and ready to eat is the bright pink and silky color of the skin. The dragon fruit itself should also be a little soft when you eat it. You do not want to eat a fruit that is too hard!
The best way to store dragon fruit before you cut it up is on the counter. But, if you want to keep your fruit fresher for longer, you can put it in a plastic bag and keep it in the refrigerator.
Either way, you want to eat your fruit when it is at its freshest, and dragon fruit can go off very quickly if you are not careful.
