If you’ve never tried dragon fruit, you’re missing out. This unusual fruit has a texture halfway between a kiwi and a grape and a mildly sweet subtle flavor with notes of strawberry and banana. Dragon fruit is also rich in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C, making it a healthy snack option. If you’re looking for something different to add to your fruit rotation, give dragon fruit a try!
What is dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is a delicious tropical fruit from the cactus family. It has a bright pink-red exterior covered in scales, and it has a vibrant magenta pulp inside that contains lots of tiny black seeds.
While you can eat dragon fruit raw right off the vine, many people appreciate it for its sweetness and vibrant color, so they add it to salads, smoothies, desserts – even savory dishes like tacos!
Type/Varieties of Dragon Fruit
While there are 3 different dragon fruit species, they all tend to taste slightly similar. There common Dragon Fruit varieties are as follow:
- Hylocereus undatus (white flesh dragon fruit):
It is the most commonly cultivated species of pitaya, which has flattened clusters of fruit that are very sweet and popular in Southeast Asia. It is also called white-fleshed pitahaya.
- Hylocereus costaricensis (red dragon fruit):
This dragon fruit species is sweeter than the white-fleshed kind, with flavors ranging from strawberries to raspberries. The red flesh can range in color from bright orange to deep magenta. It is a cactus species native to Central America and northwestern South America.
- Hylocereus megalanthus (yellow dragon fruit):
This dragon fruit species is sweeter than the white-fleshed kind, with flavors ranging from strawberries to raspberries. The yellow flesh can range in color from bright orange to deep magenta.
The yellow skin has a thin red scaling, and the scales are much smaller than in other varieties.
Dragon Fruit Taste
The taste of dragon fruit is light and somewhat sweet, with a halfway texture between a pear and a watermelon. On the other hand, the flavor does not live up to its beautiful appearance. The dragon fruit’s flavor changes dramatically when ripe, making it difficult to select an unripe one.
Ripe Dragon fruits flavor improves. Once unripe, dragon fruit has no distinct flavor; thus, most individuals find it bland. Ripe dragon fruit has a sweet and syrupy taste, whereas an unripe one has a balanced flavor with some sourness.
Furthermore, determining the fruit’s real flavor is difficult because one person’s taste may differ. One individual’s sweetness might be very sickening to others, while another finds it bland.
Dragon fruit tastes like a mix of kiwi and strawberry.
Dragon fruit tastes like a mix of kiwi and strawberry because of its acidity and sweet taste. Kiwi fruit is described as very sweet-sour with a marked aroma of melon and strawberry. Strawberry is described as sweet-sour with an aromatic component of honey and melon.
It’s sweet, juicy, and has a slightly sour taste.
Dragon fruit juice smells like mango and tastes sour. Dragon fruit juice has a fragrant scent of ripe mangos, making the fruit taste fragrant. However, because of its acidity, it tastes a bit sour. Due to its sour taste, you can eat dragon fruit, either with some black pepper or chili powder.
The texture is smooth, and the flavor is refreshing.
The dragon fruit was juicy, smooth, and refreshing. It makes you feel relaxed when you eat it because the texture is soft like jelly. The taste is also sour and soothing.
It’s perfect for snacking on or adding to smoothies or other recipes.
The dragon fruit is perfect for snacking and for adding to smoothies. Because of its fragrant scent and taste, it makes a great addition to any smoothie or recipe. A dragon fruit smoothie can provide a healthy and sweet way to start your day.
What does Dragon Fruit Look Like?
The appearance of dragon fruit can vary depending on the species, but most of them look like slightly flattened spheres.
The outside is covered by scales ranging from pink to red to magenta – sometimes overlapping like fish scales and sometimes separated into distinct sections.
Dragon fruit is bright magenta on the inside with tiny black edible seeds. When buying dragon fruit, make sure the flesh is firm to the touch and ripe (you don’t want it to be too hard, but you also don’t want it to be too soft).
How do you eat dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit should not be sliced until just before you plan to eat it or use it, as it will begin to dry out and discolor. To prepare it, cut dragon fruit in half, scoop out the slightly firm flesh with a spoon, eat it right out of the shell, or carefully remove the flesh from the skin using a sharp spoon.
Dragon fruit can also be pureed and used in sauces, puddings, frozen desserts, and drinks. Dragon fruit can store up to 2 days at room temperature or 5 days in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator.
Don’t eat the dragon fruit’s skin, but if you prefer, you may keep it and use it for serving your dragon fruit dish (continued with the dramatic presentation!)
Color and Taste.
The color of dragon fruit can vary from white to pink, red or yellow. Even though the colors range in intensity, the flavor is similar among the different varieties. It’s slightly sweet with notes of strawberry pear and banana. Many people add dragon fruit to their morning smoothies for a delicious fruity flavor.
One of the best things is that you can eat dragon fruit raw or cooked, so feel free to enjoy it in sweet recipes like smoothies and desserts or add it to savory dishes like fruit salad and tacos. You can even use dragon fruit juice to add a unique fruity flavor to cocktails!
Nutritional value of dragon fruit
Dragon Fruit is packed with antioxidants and fiber. It’s low in kilocalories and rich in vitamin C, making it a healthy snack option. It’s also an excellent source of vitamin B6 and magnesium.
Nutrition value per 100 gram
Principle
- Energy 50 kcal
- Protein 0.159-0.229 g
- Total fat 0.21-0.61 g
- Dietary Fiber 07-0.9 g
Vitamins
- Thiamin 0.28-0.043 mg
- Riboflavin 0.043-0.045 mg
- Niacin 0.297-0.43 mg
- Vitamin C 8.0-9.0 mg
Minerals
- Calcium 6.3-8.8 mg
- Iron 0.55- 0.65 mg
- Phosphorus 30.2-36.1 mg
Phyto- Nutrients
- Carotene 0.005-0.012 mg
Dragon Fruit Benefits
The fruit is low in calories and fat and cholesterol-free. It is a good source of dietary fiber, protein, and carbohydrates. It is rich in more antioxidants such as Vitamin C and beta-carotene. And it also improves your iron levels.
The fruit contains many beneficial phytochemicals like flavonoids, polyphenols, and other phenolic compounds that benefit the body.
According to research, antioxidants can prevent chronic illnesses like cancer, arthritis, heart diseases, and diabetes. Some of the health benefits associated with this fleshy fruit are:
1. Heart Health
Dragon fruit is beneficial for the heart as it reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol and improves HDL (good) cholesterol. Studies have shown that eating three to six servings of fruits each day is beneficial for heart health and prevents heart diseases.
2. Diabetes
The fruit contains polyphenols that help in improving blood sugar levels. It reduces glucose absorption by the body.
3. Anti-Aging Benefits
Dragon Fruit is rich in antioxidants which help fight free radicals and damages caused by them. The fruit is also beneficial for the skin as it moisturizes the skin and maintains its elasticity.
4. Bone Health
Dragon Fruit is a good source of calcium which is important for bone health and vitamin D, magnesium, and phosphorus. It also reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
5. Cancer Prevention
Dragon Fruit is known to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the breast, lungs, stomach, and colon. It is also beneficial for the skin against melanoma. The fruit contains zeaxanthin that helps in the early detection of cancer.
6. Immunity Support
The fruit is rich in Vitamin C content, providing immunity support by producing white blood cells and antibodies. It also helps to boost your immune system.
7. Inflammatory Disorders
The fruit is rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients, soothe the stomach lining and protect from ulcers. It also treats inflammatory disorders such as arthritis, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis.
8. Healthy Digestion
Dragon Fruit is a good source of dietary fiber that helps in proper digestion. It also reduces constipation and diarrhea.
9. Weight Loss
The fruit is low in calories and cholesterol-free, making it a healthy snack option for weight loss. It helps to maintain blood sugar levels which prevent cravings and binge eating. The fruits’ high water content makes it feel full faster, so you eat less throughout the day.
10. Skin Health
Dragon Fruit benefits the skin by moisturizing and hydrating the skin, reducing wrinkles, and delaying aging. The fruit is beneficial for both young and old, male or female.
11. Good for Eyes
Dragon fruit is a good source of vitamin A and C, which are beneficial for the eyes. It contains antioxidants that reduce the risk of eye diseases.
12. Hair Growth
The fruit contains essential nutrients that have a positive effect on your hair. It provides nourishment and also improves the quality of your hair.
13. Energizing the Body
Dragon Fruit is rich in iron which provides energy to your body by producing red blood cells. It also improves the oxygen supply to muscles and tissues by metabolism.
14. Probiotic Support
The fruit contains probiotics, good bacteria that help maintain the digestive system’s function and intestinal health. It also maintains the balance of good bacteria in the gut, preventing constipation, diarrhea, weight gain, and bloating.
Final Thought
So what does dragon fruit taste like? The answer to that question may depend on who you ask, but in general, dragon fruit is said to be sweet and refreshing, with a slightly tart flavor. It’s also low in calories and high in nutrients, making it a healthy choice whether you’re looking for a snack or trying to add some more vitamins and minerals to your diet. Have you tried dragon fruit yet? If not, we encourage you to give it a try – you may love its unique flavor!
