Enter the Dragon???
Did you know that Pitaya and Dragon Fruit are the same fruit? Pitaya - Dragon Fruit, Potato - Potahto. Dragon fruit is the new name for Pitaya and I’m here to give you the 411 on everything you need. First of all, by new, I mean 1963 new. Dragon fruit is now the more common name and the way the fruit is described in English - referring to the leather like skin and prominent scaly spikes. The fruit is experiencing its moment in the spotlight these days and it’s about time.
Originally from the volcanic soils found in Costa Rica, the stunning fruits are now grown in tropical and subtropical regions all over the world. They are widely popular and made their way out of the Americas and all the way to Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, and even India.
Dragon Fruits are the complete package. What’s not to like about their beautiful array of colors and a great nutritional story? Speaking of which, did you know that pitaya has 3x the amount of vitamin C than that of a carrot?! ? Your immune system thanks you.
Here’s a quick crash course on Pitaya/Dragon Fruit 101:
Red Dragon Fruit (Pitahaya in South America)- This brightly colored fruit which is “cousin” to the cactus pear, originates in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. It’s fluorescent pink flesh with edible black seeds is making the acai bowl look like last season’s hand me downs. Sweet, tart flavor with low acidity.
Yellow Dragon Fruit- The sweetest of all Dragon Fruits, Yellow DF (for short) will give you a rush of sweetness with a slight floral note. Yellow DF is also native to Mexico, Central and South America.
Dark Red Pitaya- Native to Nicaragua, the Dark Red Pitaya has deep, jewel toned flesh and is described as having the taste of a “sweet, juicy, meaty watermelon”. Meaty…..ok…..
White Fleshed Dragon Fruit- With a higher acidity than the others, this red skin and white flesh dragon fruit is probably the most widely consumed of them all. This Mother of Dragons has a mellow, slightly sweet, and almost earthy flavor. It is super popular in Asian cuisine and is oh so contrasty with those black seeds and white flesh.
Makes a great addition to your favorite smoothies, fruit salads, fruit Kabobs, parfaits, and more…
So, the next time you’re looking to elevate your favorite dish to impress your friends & family, the simplest and quickest way is to enter the Dragon…Fruit.