What Does A Dragon Fruit Taste Like? Know Detail

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Dragon fruits are oval-shaped, with a striking exterior pink color and a beautiful white interior. The white pulp has tiny black seeds. Dragon fruit exterior is spiky; a reason it was named dragon fruit. Anyone who has seen this fruit can attest to how mystical it is. But what does dragon fruit taste like, really? So this article covers what a dragon fruit is, how it tastes like, its benefits, and so much more. So wrap up whatever you might are doing and let’s explore this unique-looking fruit.

What is dragon fruit?

Dragon fruit, also called pitaya, is a tropical fruit grown vastly in Asia, Mexico, Australia, and many other subtropical regions worldwide. The fruits plant belongs to the genus Hylocereus in the Cactaceae family.

Dragon fruits thrive in arid areas, and their plant stems provide the fruit with moisture present in the fruit. This moisture contributes to the fruit’s taste. Dragon fruits black seeds are crunchy to bites and provide us with healthy fats.

The fruit’s outer appearance may vary from fruit to fruit. You will find some with a spiky green exterior with a pink peel, with the interior being white with small black seeds. Alternatively, some have a yellow peel and the insides magenta colored.

What does a dragon fruit taste like, actually?

Describing dragon fruit’s taste is a little difficult. This is because different people have a different view of the taste of the fruit. How a dragon fruit taste also depends on the ripeness of the fruit. The picking process is also a headache because you cannot easily distinguish a ripe one from an unripe one.

Unripe dragon fruits have no superior taste, and they almost taste like nothing. However, there’s a noticeably bland taste that is sour to the mouth. Ripe dragon fruit has a light unripe pear-like taste that’ mildly sweet like kiwi.

The fruit’s texture is firm, crispy when bitten, creamy and juicy, just like a watermelon. The fruit also contrasts with other tropical fruits that have aromas in them. Dragon fruit rarely has an aroma. The fruit’s seeds are safe to consume, and they feature a crunchy sound upon biting into them.

Although this fruit is amazing, its appearance contrasts its taste. You would expect a burst of an amazing flavor from the sweet-looking fruit. Either way, if you love kiwi and pear, you will definitely love dragon fruits in a salad or as a snack. Note that the skin of the fruit is not edible and should be discarded once peeled.

Different types of dragon fruit

Dragon fruits come in different varieties. These varieties include: –

Hylocereus undatus/white dragon fruit

This is the most common variety, which features pink skin and white pulp with tiny black seeds. It has a mild taste filled with an earthy flavor and is popular in Asian cuisines.

Hylocereus megalanthus/yellow dragon fruit

This variety has an almost translucent inner side, and it’s the sweetest of all varieties. The seeds are a bit larger compared to other varieties, and it is commonly grown in Ecuador.

The spikes on the fruits are relatively smaller when compared with their red variety counterparts. Since it’s the most flavorful, it is best eaten by scooping right into it with a spoon. You can find it in any season as it’s always bursting throughout the year.

Hylocereus polyrhizus/pink dragon fruit

With pink skin with red or pink/red flesh, this dragon fruit variety is large and sweeter than the white dragon fruit.

Hylocereus guatemalensis

This fruit is vastly grown in central and southern America with bright pink skin and purple pulp.

Hylocereus costaricensis/red dragon fruit

Has Red skin and red flesh.

What does a dragon berry taste like?

Dragon vines climb or hold onto trees or other plants. The plant stems branch in few wavy spines and only flower during the night. The flower births a berry with leathery skin upon pollination, which is aided by moths and bats. This berry has a flavor close to that of dragon fruit and a strawberry.

Red dragon fruit taste

The red dragon fruit is thick and has triangle-shaped scales on its skin, almost similar to the white-fleshed variety. They are mainly grown in the rich volcanic soils of Nicaragua.

The fruit has magenta-colored skin that results from betacyanin compound, a pigment found in beetroot and pears.

The fruit has a sweet flavor which is much flavorful than the white pulp variety. The red dragon fruit is also grown in Israel, and the variety is a bit smaller. Its pulp has the texture of kiwi fruit.

Pink dragon fruit taste

Pink dragon fruits are flavorful and have a sweeter taste compared to white dragon fruits. It also has a small berry taste. Other than its taste, the pink dragon fruit has vitamins A, C, B1, B12, and E that are very healthy.

What is a dragon fruit supposed to taste like?

Dragon fruit has an intriguing look featuring colors like red, pink, yellow, magenta, and white pulp. By just looking at their colors, you would expect a full flavor that matches them. That, however, isn’t the case. Their mild, close-to-nothing taste leaves you wondering why it is so beautiful to their eyes.

Either way, you will still enjoy some subtle sweetness in the fruit, just like a watermelon’s juiciness. The fruit’s pulp has this gritty texture like pears and tons of tiny little black seeds like a kiwi fruit. Overall, the dragon fruit taste is a combination of kiwi, pear, and watermelon taste altogether.

Many people do not love the taste at the first bite, but one can get creative and make it eatable. That would be doing your body a great favor. So how can one improve the taste of the fruit?

  • You can make a smoothie from it. Add some banana, dragon fruit, and your favorite berries in a blender, and run it to get that sweet smoothie.
  • Drizzle some Greek yogurt on dragon fruit, then top with some nuts to enjoy the mixture’s crunchiness, wateriness, and creaminess.
  • Pour in some honey to boost the missing flavor in the dragon fruit.
  • Make some dragon fruit kebabs. Just slice the fruit in smaller bits together with other favorite fruits, arrange them into a skewer, and grill them. after that, you can sprinkle them with some sugar and enjoy.

Which dragon fruit tastes better?

Dragon fruits are famous in Southeast Asia and Latin America, but they are rapidly gaining popularity in the United States. Hylocereus megalanthus or the yellow dragon fruits’ taste wins it all. It has this honey-to-sugar cube taste that you will fall in love with.

However, the taste might differ in different individuals. For instance, someone who loves a sweet and tart taste might not find the yellow dragon fruit as fascinating as one who has a sweet tooth that fits the yellow fruit taste.

The pink and red dragon fruits have a sweet, light flavor close to an unripe pear or melon with some cucumber freshness and a little tartness. Some people find the taste best but generally, how the fruit taste depends on different individuals.

What is dragon fruit good for?

Dragon fruits are good for your body. It contains vitamins A and C. Vitamin C helps boosts our immune systems. The nutrients in dragon fruits are magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorous, potassium, and smaller amounts of copper and calcium. All these nutrients play a role in maintaining good health in our bodies. A 227g cup of dragon fruit serves:

  • Calories 136
  • Fats 0g
  • Proteins 3g
  • Fiber 7g
  • Carbohydrates 29g
  • Iron 8% recommended daily intake(RDI)
  • Vitamin C 9% RDI
  • Vitamin E 4% RDI

The fruit also contains oligosaccharides carbohydrates that help in growing the good bacteria in the stomach. That way, there is a reduced risk of intestinal infections and digestion problems. Carbs also play a role in maintaining a good immune system.

Dragon fruit seeds have healthy omega 3 and omega 9 fatty acids and other natural oils essential heart-health boosters. These fats are healthy and prevent the buildup of bad cholesterol in our bodies.

The fiber in this beautiful fruit prevents any digestion problems. The antioxidants beta-carotene, betalain, and lycopene help reduce any chronic diseases. This fruit also boasts of anti-inflammatory properties and is very beneficial for persons suffering from diabetes. Ideally, it eases any pain associated with arthritis.

Lastly, dragon fruit is good for beauty. The combination of vitamin C, fiber, and minerals help the body in repairing any damaged cells, maintaining a youthful glow that you will fall in love with.

Health benefits of dragon fruit

Behind the beauty of dragon fruit are a ton of health benefits that you will enjoy. If the taste doesn’t really fascinate you, then maybe going through the benefits you reap from it might make you fall in love with this fruit.

Skincare

Dragon fruits are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C that help repair the damaged cells that cause premature aging, wrinkles, dry skin, and acne. In fact, Asians from southeastern believe that a dragon fruit paste applied on their faces makes them look so much younger. If you suffer from sunburns, then this is a good solution to it.

Boost immune system

Rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, this fruit helps your body fight any foreign attacks from bacteria and germs. The resulting effect from this attack is infections and cases of flu due to cell damage. If you suffer a weakened immune system, the dragon fruit is what will help you boost your immunity.

Digestion and gut health

The human gut is filled with several microorganisms that include both good and bad bacteria. If there’s no balance between the two, there could be a potential risk of heart disease and asthma. Dragon fruit helps balance the microorganisms.

Likewise, this fruit is packed with fibers in its seeds and skin that aid in digestion. 100g dragon fruit contains 11% of the daily value. The recommended daily intake for an adult is 38g to prevent constipation and aid bowel movement.

Cardiovascular health

The fruits’ betalains antioxidant found in red dragon fruit pulp, coupled with the omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in the seeds, helps decrease the LDL or bad cholesterol levels. So if you are looking forward to improving your cardiovascular health, then the dragon fruit is perfect for that. The reduction of bad cholesterol from your body also helps unclog arteries, thus improved blood flow. This significantly reduces any risk of stroke or heart attack.

Preventing cancer

Dragon fruit contains lycopene which is an antioxidant that’s responsible for the fruit’s color. Coupled with vitamin C, they help the body in inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells. The fruits extract has been used in treating breast cancer.

Weight loss

Dragon fruits are low in calories and a great snack if you want to melt off some fat. It also helps you feel full for a long, making it perfect for eating before sports or work. The high fiber content is filling, and you won’t reach out to get other snacks after eating dragon fruit. 

Hair health

The nutrients in dragon fruits help keep your hair follicles open, thus promoting healthy and soft hair. A hair mask from dragon fruit massaged into your hair does some magic.

Fighting anemia in pregnancy

Pregnant women are prone to anemia deficiency associated with infant mortality, miscarriages, low birth weight, and premature labor. This fruit helps increase the hemoglobin levels that in turn fight anemia.

Regulating blood sugars

Persons suffering from type 2 diabetes benefit from this fruit as it makes them fuller for long, courtesy of the fiber content.

Others:

  • Strong bones and teeth
  • Improved memory and vision

Frequently Asked Question(FAQS)

Does eating dragon fruits have any side effects?

Dragon fruit is a safe fruit to eat. However, some people do experience allergic reactions after eating it. If your tongue swells or you start vomiting after consuming the fruit, then it might be an allergic reaction. This allergen reaction is so rare.

Also, consuming too much red or pink dragon fruit might turn the color of your urine to pink or red. It shouldn’t be a matter to worry about since the urine gets to its normal color after the fruit clears from your body.

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Conclusion

I now hope the question on what a dragon fruit tastes like won’t bother you anymore. You can visit the supermarket and grab some to enjoy as a snack, so you clearly understand the taste. You should, however, know that the fruit can be really expensive, but with the health benefits it carries, you wouldn’t mind spending on it.

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