Dragon Fruit Flavor: How to Recognize Dragon Fruit When Eating

The exotic dragon fruit has nothing to do with fire-breathing mythical creatures, even if many would describe this fruit as exotic. You can read here what the taste of the fruit, also known as pitaya, is like and what you should look out for when enjoying the white-black flesh.

The taste of dragon fruit: This is how the exotic pitaya tastes

The dragon fruit belongs to the cactus family and originally comes from Mexico. Today’s cultivation countries are also Nicaragua, Israel or Vietnam. The pitaya is the fruit of a climbing cactus. In Germany, three different varieties of dragon fruit are offered: A yellow and a red one with the typical white flesh and many small black seeds, and a red one with red flesh.

• Dragon fruit consists of 90 percent water and therefore also has a watery taste. The aroma of the jelly-like white flesh with the many black seeds is slightly acidic to very sweet.
• The aroma differs from species to species. While the yellow fruit tastes sweet and aromatic, the aroma of the red pitaya with the white flesh is considered tasteless. The red dragon fruit with the red interior, on the other hand, has an intense taste.
• The flavor of the dragon fruit moves between kiwi, gooseberry, pear and strawberry. Overall, a dragon fruit tastes refreshingly fruity – similar to a watermelon.

This is how you eat the fruit – and you should pay attention to this

To enjoy fully flavored dragon fruit, you would need to travel to a country where the fruit grows. For export, the pitaya is harvested unripe, i.e. still green. The dragon fruit continues to ripen during the long journey. This makes the aroma more watery than leaving the fruit in the sun until fully ripe.

• Eat dragon fruit raw by halving or peeling the fruit and either scooping out or dicing the flesh. Important: You must not eat the peel as it is inedible.
• The fruits should be stored in a shady place and at room temperature. Be sure to store the pitaya upright and not between other types of fruit. In this way you avoid pressure points that can rot quickly.
• By the way: if you want the fruit to stay crisp longer, it is advisable to moisten the peel with water several times a day. When the air is dry, the pitaya shrinks into a shriveled fruit. But even in this state, the pulp can still be eaten.
• Warning: dragon fruit has a laxative effect. Consuming too much of the watery pulp can cause intestinal problems.