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What is Dragon Fruit? 9 Reasons to Eat This Fascinating Tropical Fruit

When you think of a dragon, you might think of a brightly colored, fire-breathing creature with green scales. If you’ve ever seen a dragon fruit, the description kind of fits — minus the fire-breathing part, of course. But do surprising health benefits lurk behind that unique, scaly, and admittedly weird appearance? You might be surprised when you bite into the edible pulp of dragon fruit. It doesn’t taste as pungent as you might guess based on its name and appearance. In fact, it has a refreshing, remarkably subtle, and refined taste, punctuated by an enticing and mild sweetness. Some people say it tastes like a cross between a kiwi and a pear.

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 Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Other Health Effects of Dragon Fruit and Potential Delivery Systems for Its Bioactive Compounds

The dragon fruit of pitaya is a rustic fruit belonging to the Cactaceae family, the genus Hylocereus. It is known as dragon fruit due to the presence of bright red skin with overlapping green fins covering the fruit.

Articles of Interest

A Fruit With a Future

IF there is one thing the dragon fruit has mastered, it’s the art of the Hollywood entrance. It’s not uncommon to hear a chorus of beguiled gasps when a dragon fruit — also known as pitaya or pitahaya — is placed in front of an audience. From the outside the fruit looks like a hot pink bulb ringed with a jester’s crown of curly greenish petals.

Breakfast at Your Desk: Have You Ever Had Dragon Fruit?

Have you ever had dragon fruit? Jen from Tiny Urban Kitchen (a lovely blog!) has me convinced that I need to try dragon fruit, and fast

Dragon Fruit Is Showing Up All Over. So Why Are Farmers Leaving the Business?

he flavor is a fixture on drink menus. But competition from abroad has South Florida growers rethinking their commitment to a once-lucrative crop that requires a lot of investment and care.

Dragon Fruit: A healthy addition to your daily diet

Dragon fruit, also known as pitahaya or strawberry pear, is a low calorie tropical fruit known for its vibrant red skin and sweet, seed-speckled pulp. It contains nutrients, prebiotic fibers, and other healthy substances.

Dragon fruit: How to enjoy this antioxidant-rich fruit

Beloved by smoothie shops and influencers alike, pitaya — a.k.a. dragon fruit — is increasingly popular. And there's no denying this dramatic-looking fruit has an alluring Game-of-Thrones-esque name and appearance. But is it also the nutritional powerhouse some are claiming?

Dragon Fruit: What It Is and Why It’s Healthy

Food ruts happen. Maybe you’re in one now. Need help getting out of it? Dragon fruit is a nutritious — not to mention vibrant — fruit that’s full of fiber and may improve your gut health. Ready to get a little adventurous?

Nutritional Value and Therapeutic Benefits of Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit, which is native to northern South America and Mexico, has become a significant crop in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including Vietnam, China, and Australia. The fruit (Hylocereus spp.) is rich in various bioactive phytochemical compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and pigments such as betalains and anthocyanins, which contribute to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties.

Pitaya Bowls Might Be Your New Favorite Breakfast

If you're on Instagram half as much as I am, then you might have noticed the popularity of açaí bowls—and, more recently, pitaya bowls. Just like antioxidant-rich açaí berries, pitaya (dragon fruit) is pink and loaded with nutrients—and you might even prefer the taste!

Pitaya Is the New Acai: 3 Breakfast Recipes for Beauty’s Latest Superfood

A major color palette shift is at hand in the world of healthy eating. Beneath the artfully arranged slices of mango and studied sprinklings of granola that once adorned breakfast bowls heaped with pale purple acai, a new intensely fuchsia base has taken root: Pitaya. Otherwise known as dragon fruit, the vibrant ingredient is making its mark on everything from our Instagram feeds to the tables of our favorite restaurants.

What Does Dragon Fruit Taste Like?

Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is visually stunning and has health benefits to match (vitamins, prebiotics and loads of fiber and antioxidants). But before you buy one and slice it on your smoothie bowl, let's discuss what it tastes like. When ripe, dragon fruit has a mildly sweet flavor often described as a blend of pear and kiwi, and a soft texture similar to a ripe kiwi. Under-ripe dragon fruit, on the other hand, is basically flavorless.

What is the big deal about dragon fruit?

Generally mild and subtly sweet, with a texture similar to kiwi, dragon fruit has been embraced by both smoothie shops and influencers, who tout the fruit's nutritional benefits. The fruit has even been given the moniker “superfruit” or “superfood,” thanks to its healthy package of nutrients relative to its calories.

Why dragon fruit is the best thing to happen to your diet

Once an exotic fruit grown in China and neighbouring countries, it has now become a summer staple in Bangladesh. Farming of pitaya — dragon fruit — is common and the tropical fruit has become popular for its unique external structure, sweet taste, and texture.

You've Never Heard of It, But Meet the Strange New Superfruit

It's called baobab (good luck pronouncing that), and marketers are calling this native African fruit the next hot superfood (check out the amazing-looking trees this fruit grows on!). Rich in antioxidants, it's loaded with vitamin c, calcium, and is a great source of other nutrietns (iron, potassium and magnesium, for instance).

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6 Reasons Nutrition Experts Love Dragon Fruit

Enter dragon fruit, a lesser-known but increasingly popular choice. Also known as pitaya, dragon fruit gets its name from its spiky exterior, says Akua Woolbright, MD, national nutrition director for Whole Cities Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Whole Foods. It’s not just a funny-looking food—dragon fruit reportedly has a whole host of nutritional benefits. Nutrition gurus praise its ability to boost antioxidants, support gut health, and even help manage diabetes.