Dragonfruit
Pitaya fruit, pitahaya fruit, commonly known as the dragon fruit, is a fruit from Central America, South America, and Asia. It has a light sweet taste, an intense shape and colour, and has a texture close to a kiwi. In addition to being tasty and refreshing, it contains a lot of water and other important minerals with varied nutritional ingredients.[1]
Pitaya usually refers to fruit of the genus Stenocereus, while pitahaya or dragon fruit refers to fruit of the genus Selenicereus (formerly Hylocereus), both in the family Cactaceae.[2] The common name in English – dragon fruit – derives from the leather-like skin and scaly spikes on the fruit exterior. Depending on the variety, pitaya fruits may have sweet- or sour-tasting flesh that can be red, white, or yellow in color.
Occurrence
[change | change source]It is also known as “pitaya” if it comes from the very closely related Stenographers genus. The actual dragon fruit is the fruit of the cactus genus Hylocereus.[3] Occuring in Mexico, South America, as well as Central America. It is possible it was introduced to Southeast Asian nations through Vietnam, alongside trade with the French during the 1800s. Cambodia, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines, where it still holds as an important part of their diet.[source?]
As of 2024, the countries where most of these are grown commercially for their fruit are Nicaragua, the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, and Israel.
Yellow Pitaya
[change | change source]The yellow dragon fruit has yellow skin and has white flesh. It has the highest sugar content among dragon fruits.[4] In Chinese, it is called giraffe family and is commonly found in Hong Kong. The ripe ones are really sweet like sugar.
Gallery
[change | change source]-
Pitaya "tree" -
Plantation in Naozhou Island -
Flowering, at night -
Yellow S. megalanthus -
Red S. costaricensis -
Jus buah naga, purple pitaya juice, Indonesia -
Red, yellow and white fruits -
Dress for a folk dance called Flor de Pitahaya "Pitahaya Flower" from Baja California Sur displayed at the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City -
Dissected pitaya
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References
[change | change source]- ↑ "What Are the Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit?". Verywell Fit. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ↑ Janick, Jules; Paull, Robert E., eds. (2008). "C". The Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts. Cambridge, United Kingdom: CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International). pp. 215–216, 222–226. ISBN 978-0-85199-638-7.
- ↑ Janick, Jules; Paull, Robert E. (2008). The Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts. CABI. ISBN 978-0-85199-638-7.
- ↑ Emoha (2022-04-26). "Yellow Dragon Fruit – Nature's Boon For Seniors". Emoha Blogs. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
https://www.producebluebook.com/know-your-commodity/dragon-fruit/