Dragon fruit (also known as Pitaya) is one of the strangest fruits you can have right now. Native to Southeast Asia and Latin America, dragon fruit is known for its reddish skin and light green scales.
However, while its appearance is certainly eye-catching, the taste is where it’s truly at. Dragon fruit has a sweet and rich taste that perfectly complements its creamy texture. Anybody can enjoy dragon fruit, which is why we’ve put together a guide that answers the question “what kinds of dragon fruit are there?”.
The different kinds of dragon fruit
One of the great things about dragon fruit is that there are different variations of it, each with their own appearance and taste. You can spot each variant by the colour of its skin as well as the flesh underneath.
White Dragon Fruit
(a.k.a. Selenicerous Undatus or Hylocerus Undatus)
This version of dragon fruit has pink skin and white flesh with black seeds on the inside. It is the most common dragon fruit available and it is known for its sweet taste.
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Red Dragon Fruit
(a.k.a. Hylocerus Costaricensis or Pitaya Roja)
This version of dragon fruit shares a deep red colour between its skin and the interior flesh. This has a stronger taste than its white counterparts, it has a texture akin to a kiwi fruit, and eating it will likely stain your fingers.
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Pink Dragon Fruit
(a.k.a. Hylocerus Guatemalensis)
Pink dragon fruit is basically red dragon fruit, but with pink flesh instead of red. Its flesh is a medium between the sweeter taste of the red dragon fruit and the more relatively neutral taste of the white dragon fruit.
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Yellow Dragon Fruit
(a.k.a. Pitaya Amarilla, Hylocerus Megalanthus or Selenicereus Megalanthus)
This version of dragon fruit has yellow skin and a white flesh inside. Native to South America, its texture is the firmest of the dragon fruit variations, and its taste is considered the richest.
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Sour Dragon Fruit
(a.k.a. Stenocereus)
This version of dragon fruit is regularly eaten in the dry regions of the Americas. While the skin is pink with white flesh, its taste is (like the name suggests) quite sour. It’s also the juiciest version of dragon fruit, and its seeds have a nutty flavour.
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Dragon Fruit FAQs
It doesn’t matter what kinds of dragon fruit there are, they all taste great. Here are some frequently asked questions about pitaya.
How do I know if my dragon fruit is ripe?
Dragon fruit’s gnarly appearance makes it difficult to tell when it’s ripe, but once you know what to look for, you can easily identify it. The skin of ripe dragon fruits has bright, even colors and is slightly malleable. A very firm dragon fruit will probably need a few days to ripen before it’s ideal for eating. If your fruit is too blotchy, or too soft or mushy, then it may have become too ripe.
How do I prepare my dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit may look intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple to prepare. The first step is to split the fruit in half to reveal the white, seed-filled flesh within. Next, run a spoon along the edges of the skin and then lift the flesh from underneath to loosen it from the skin.
When the fruit is ripe, it will easily separate from the skin. It can be eaten raw, sliced up and stored for later, or used in a huge variety of different recipes. Whatever you do with it, you’ll love it.
What recipes can I make with dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit goes well with so many different types of recipes. Make fruit kebabs off some skewers (dragon fruit and kiwi go really well together). Fancy a delicious morning smoothie? No problem. Just blend it with the fruits and grains of your choice.
Why not make some sorbet? In fact, you can serve the sorbet in the dragon fruit skin if you want. You can even make tropical cocktails with dragon fruit. Enjoy! With a fruit as delicious as dragon fruit, you won’t be disappointed.
Can I eat the skin of my dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit skin is not recommended for consumption. There are two reasons for this. The first is its taste. Dragon fruit is a lot like avocados, in that the goal is to remove the skin in order to eat the fruit. It is also possible for the dragon fruit to have pesticide residue on the skin, depending on where it is grown.
Of course, you don’t need to worry about the skin if you get your dragon fruit frozen. The fruit has already been prepared and is ready for you to eat right out of the package.
What is the best time for me to eat my dragon fruit?
Although dragon fruit can be eaten at any time, its peak season is from summer to early autumn. This is why frozen dragon fruit is so convenient. You can always eat high quality, delicious dragon fruit, regardless of the season.
You can enjoy dragon fruit with all kinds of foods as well. First thing in the morning? Use it in a breakfast bowl or a smoothie. Are you having lunch? Put it in your salad. What about that night? Fun fact, dragon fruit goes really well with fish dishes, and pretty much any desert you can think of.
What’s the best way for me to eat my dragon fruit?
That’s the beauty of dragon fruit. There are so many different ways to eat it, that the best way is whatever you want.
However, frozen dragon fruit is a lot easier to find. At Purple Foods, we stock the freshest, most high quality dragon fruit available, carefully selected for its nutritional profile as well as its aesthetics.