Meet the Healthy, Delicious Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit is a tasty, exotic tropical fruit that was once found only in specialty stores, but is now becoming more widely available in the United States. Delicious and nutritious, the dragon fruit has a long history and an unforgettable pink color that adds a bright, pleasing touch to dishes.
Also known as pitaya, dragon fruit was first grown in the southern portion of Texas and Mexico. The first European explorers to visit the region took the cactus with them on their voyages and spread it throughout the world. In Asia, pitaya quickly became popular, and it was there that the fruit received its nickname. The dragon fruit was grown as a food source but also for ornamental purposes, as it produces beautiful flowers that bloom only at night.
It was only in the last 10 to 15 years that growing dragon fruit has become a true commercial enterprise, and this is due in large part to the discovery of its many health benefits.
As a food, dragon fruit can be sliced and eaten as is. In addition, the fruit is a popular addition to salads and is often used in tropical drinks and smoothies. Dragon fruit is also made into ice cream and blended with yogurt and can be used to produce jam. When fermented, dragon fruit becomes a delicious bright pink wine. The color also makes it a natural pigment for cosmetics and food coloring.
There are a number of species of cacti that produce pitaya, and different varieties produce fruit with different characteristics. The most popular varieties are the Hylocereus undatus and the Hylocereus polyrhizus. Both types of dragon fruit have red flesh; however, the Hylocereus undatus is white inside, while the Hylocereus polyrhizus is red. A yellow-skinned version with white insides is also grown in South America.
The United States is one of the many countries that produces dragon fruit and exports it in whole and pulp forms. Since cacti typically require warm climates to thrive, most pitaya farming takes place in California, Florida, Hawaii and Texas.
Slightly sweet, dragon fruit is often compared to melon in terms of its flavor profile, but its texture is more comparable to that of kiwi fruit. Some of the potential health benefits of pitaya include:
– Vision Health. Dragon fruit is rich in beta-carotene, which is necessary for producing healthy eye cells.
– Immune Support. Dragon fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin C, a nutrient that plays an important role in immunity and performs many other jobs in the body.
– Antioxidant Protection. Antioxidants in pitaya help to protect the
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