You may be familiar with the delicious Dragon Fruit, but contrary to popular belief, it is native to South America rather than Southeast Asia. The fruit is related to papayas and prickly pears and comes in several varieties with different skin and flesh colors. Is there a blue Pitaya (the other name for Dragon Fruit) among the several species?
Is blue dragon fruit a real thing? Is this something you shouldn’t expect from this fruit? We have gathered all of the information you need to know about the subject to clear up any doubts you may have.
Is Blue Dragon Fruit Real?
Let’s get right to the point. The flesh of dragon fruits comes in various colors, including pink, white, yellow, purple, and red. Plants with more thorns around the flowers will, on average, produce darker fruits. And in general, the darker the flesh color, the higher the concentration of antioxidants.
Some people may confuse deep blue dragon fruit with blue species. American Beauty, Cosmic Charlie, Tomsead, Purple Haze, and Physical Graffiti are some varieties that produce such fruits.
Don’t expect a deep blue color, though. In reality, such fruits do not exist in nature. There may be a slight blue tint, but the flesh will be mostly white yellow magenta, or purple. And the combination may appear blue.
What exactly is a blue dragon fruit?
The vitamin and nutrition content of the blue dragon fruit with red flesh is high. Nhung’s family is raising seedlings to sell to other neighborhood residents. Many families with hilly land have switched from growing cassava to growing dragon plants.
How Many Different Types of Dragon Fruit Are There?
The fruit is available in four varieties: three with pink skin, one with white flesh, one with red flesh, and one with purple flesh. The fourth type has yellow skin and white flesh. Like kiwifruit, they all have tiny black seeds that are edible.
What are the three kinds of dragon fruit?
There are three dragon fruit species in the genus Hylocereus and one in the genus Selenicereus. Hylocereus guatemalensis, Hylocereus polyrhizus, and Hylocereus undatus varieties, as well as hybrids of these three species, are commercially grown worldwide.
Different Kinds Of Dragon Fruits
Sour Dragon Fruit
The dragon fruit, Stenocereus, can be found throughout America’s dry regions. Sour dragon fruit is a refreshing fruit that tastes spicy and sour. This fruit is still harvested in the northwestern Mexican region. They are also well-known for their name, “ziix is ccap xl,” which translates as “sour fruits.” The seeds are edible and have a strong nutty flavor.
White Dragon Fruit
Hylocereus Undatus and Selenicereus Undatus are other names for them. This dragon fruit is the most widely grown dragon fruit, with white flesh and pink skin. Thompson, the largest and most popular dragon fruit cultivar, can weigh up to 1.5 pounds. Harpua has a semi-sweet pulp with a grape-like flavor. When chilled, Neitzel, a California native, becomes sweeter and more delicious.
Red Dragon Fruit
Hylocereus costaricensis is another name for Pitaya Roja. It’s dragon fruit, with red flesh and skin. It is a sweet-flavored dragon fruit with the texture of a Kiwi. Besides that, it can be eaten raw or blended into smoothies. The disadvantage of consuming red dragon fruits is that they can stain your hands.
However, combining them with solid fruit flavors like pineapple will make it more enjoyable. Costa Rican Sunset (Natura Mystic), Zamorano, and Red Jaina are examples of Red Dragon fruit cultivars.
Yellow Dragon Fruit
Pitaya megalanthus, scientifically known as Hylocereus Megalanthus, is also known by the common name Selenicereus Megalanthus. This dragon fruit variety is native to South America and has a yellow-skinned scaling pattern with firm white flesh. This dragon fruit is the best, despite having only one variety.
Pink Dragon Fruit
These dragon fruits are also red, but their flesh is not the same. Pink dragon fruit has soft to hot pink edible flesh. This type of dragon fruit can adapt to various soil and climate conditions. Pink dragon fruit cultivars include Delight, Cosmic Charlie (Delight), Voodoo Child (Voodoo Child), and American Beauty, Hylocereus guatemalensis.
Which Dragon Fruit Color is The Best?
The Red Dragon fruit is our favorite because of its vibrant magenta flesh. The taste is sweeter than the white-flesh variety, with a berry undertone. Red-flesh dragon fruit is commonly found in Nicaragua, which is magically fertilized in the rich volcanic soil, enhancing its flavor and sweetness.
How Do You Know When Your Dragon Fruit Is Ready?
Although it may seem difficult to open, dragon fruit is a simple fruit to cut and eat that can add flavor to smoothies or give you a lot of nutrients on its own. Dragon fruits are typically pink inside, with white flesh and black seeds. But how do you know when a dragon fruit is ripe?
The fruit should be shiny and free of blemishes and wrinkles. It should also be soft before you cut it: just like avocados, you should avoid opening rock-hard fruits because they will never mature. The same can be said for overripe dragon fruits, which are mushy and lack flavor. Moreover, the skin should not be green or light. It must be uniform in color.
To open a dragon fruit, cut it in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. After that, cut it into cubes (or however you prefer it). But don’t expect a flavor explosion! Dragon fruits taste like a cross between a mild kiwi and a pear. Red dragon fruits are delicious if you like sweet fruits.
How to Grow a Dragon Fruit Plant
While dragon fruit can be difficult to find in stores, it is not a difficult plant to grow. This tough cactus is native to Mexico and South America and can be grown as an ornamental. Dragon fruit can be grown in Florida and other warm-weather states.
As with most succulents, once established, they will give you plenty of pleasure. Their blooms are one-of-a-kind and only appear at night. They also emit an attractive scent that will transport you to the tropics.
The dragon fruit plant, unlike most cactus varieties, is a climber. So, for it to grow, you’ll need to provide some guidance. What’s more, your plant will thrive in most soil conditions but will perform best in sandy and slightly acidic soils.
To avoid problems, stick to your watering schedule: only water your plant when the soil feels dry. If you live in a cold climate, avoid growing a dragon fruit plant: the ideal temperature range is 65 to 80°F.
Where Can I Get Blue Dragon Fruit?
Dragon fruit is a high-antioxidant tropical fruit that is frequently associated with Southeast Asia. It was, however, born in South America.
Dragon fruit with blue or green flesh is possible, but it is not edible. These colors indicate that your dragonfruit is not ripe and has not yet reached full growth. The most difficult fruit to find may be an unripe blue or green dragon fruit, but this color will change to red, pink, or yellow as it ripens. Although you may find one, you must determine which is ready and which must wait longer.
Dragon Fruit’s Health Advantages
Many potential health benefits of dragon fruit include:
It has a high concentration of antioxidants such as flavonoids, phenolic acid, and betacyanin. These natural substances protect your cells from free radical damage, which can lead to diseases such as cancer and premature aging.
It’s naturally low in fat and high in fiber. It’s a good snack because it keeps you fuller for longer between meals.
It can help boost your immune system. Dragon fruit is high in vitamin C and other antioxidants that benefit the immune system.
It has the potential to increase your iron levels. Iron is essential for moving oxygen through your body and providing energy, and dragon fruit contains iron. And the vitamin C in dragon fruit aids your body’s absorption and usage of iron.
Health Dangers of Dragon Fruit
Although studies have reported isolated allergic reactions, dragon fruit is generally safe to eat. Symptoms include tongue swelling, hives, and vomiting. This type of reaction appears to be extremely rare.
If you consume enough red dragon fruit, your pee may turn pink or red. This symptom appears to be more serious than it is. If you eat a lot of beets, the same thing can happen. Once the fruit has passed through your system, your pee should return to its normal color.
I hope you found this article useful!