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Have You Tried Dragon Fruit? Pitahaya: Bat Pollinated Cactus Fruit

This is a delicious, sweet and refreshing fruit. I’m a fan of fruit that’s easy and doesn’t need juicing or sweetening, like apples, mangoes and bananas.

The Pitahaya fruit is new to me, and my list of “easy fruit.”  It’s a little funny looking, the skin is yellow (or red, depending on variety) and bumpy.  I expected to find a big pit in the middle, but was pleasantly surprised to find no pit, just little soft crunchy seeds, kind of like the seeds in a kiwi, but a little bigger.  The flavor is very pleasant, sweet like a really good Honeydew Mellon, but better. 

It also has a very high water content making it really refreshing.  The skin is not eaten, and don’t eat too many at once because they have mild laxative properties. . .

Pitahaya Dragon Fruit

I did a little research and found out that the fruit comes from the 

Dragon-fruit cactus blooms at night and is pollinated by bats and other nocturnal critters.  It’s high in vitamin C, aids in weight loss, and is good for diabetics.

We just cut it in half and scoop out the fruit.  Yum!

Pitahaya Dragon Fruit
(Who knew Dragons grew fruit? Or maybe these are their eggs, whatever the case there must be Dragons somewhere here in Ecuador.  I’ll keep my eyes open.)

Gary Frankel

Tuesday 28th of February 2017

In 2010 we visited Ecuador where I had Pitahaya for the first time. I've never been able to find it here in the United States. Do you know where I can purchase the yellow Pitahaya? Is it available online perhaps?

Howard Perry

Saturday 7th of March 2015

I've had both white and pink dragon fruit. I prefer pink but be careful. It can stain clothes easily

Kris

Sunday 20th of January 2013

I tried to grow it in Florida. I had some gorgeous flowers but no fruit. Maybe I should try it here in Panama!

Paul Henry

Monday 24th of September 2012

The yellow pitahaya I had in Ecuador was much sweeter than the pink variety I found in Chinatown, NY.

aaron

Monday 19th of December 2011

We get them here as well, but they are usually florscent pink! Yes, they are sweet and kiwi like as well as melonish. Mmmm.