Dragon fruit looks otherworldly — bright magenta, sunset pink, or lemon yellow with flame-like green petals. When you slice one of these orbs in half, the inside is equally stunning. The flesh has an abundance of tiny black seeds and ranges from white with a slightly grayish hue to deep fuchsia.
With such a show-stopping appearance, you would expect the taste of dragon fruits to be just as vibrant, but thats actually not the case. The taste of dragon fruit is very mild — lightly sweet, and depending on variety, sometimes slightly sour. Many compare the taste and texture to a combination of kiwi, pear, and barely ripe watermelon. Like a ripe pear, it is somewhat grainy and can be scooped with a spoon. The texture from the abundance of tiny seeds is reminiscent of kiwi, and while not as juicy as a watermelon, dragon fruit has a watery quality. The taste of dragon fruit is unique, understated, and refreshing.
I received a lot of comments about the Dragon Fruit “ ITS A TASTELESS FRUITS” Let me tell you, it’s Tasteless if you buy from the store, because they pick them very young and let it sit at the counter for weeks to months , so the fruit loose the sugar content . Sugar will turn to Starch after harvest.
Make dragon fruit shine
When ripe, dragon fruit smells pleasantly floral, with that characteristic honeyed tropical fruit funk, though not nearly as pungent as durian. Unripe dragon fruit has no discernable smell, but when they have gone bad, they smell rancid. While yellow and red-fleshed dragon fruits are sweeter, all dragon fruits have a pretty mild taste and can benefit from additions to give a little oomph. A drizzle of honey can make a world of difference. You dont need much, but the complex sweetness of honey dials up the subtle flavors of the dragon fruit. Using yogurt as a base for a dragon fruit-centric breakfast, snack, or dessert is another excellent way to enhance flavor. Yogurt adds creaminess, heft, and tang.
For double the flavor-boosting impact, make a smoothie bowl with frozen dragon fruit, honey, and yogurt. To really maximize the unique beauty of this tropical delight, use a white-fleshed dragon fruit for the base and top with pretty spheres of red dragon fruit, scooped with a melon baller. Compliment with brightly colored tangy fruits like pineapple, mango, or oranges. Go for a monochrome look with a red-fleshed dragon fruit base, and top with strawberries, pomegranate seeds, blood orange supremes, and chocolate-covered dried cherries.
You can also take dragon fruit in a savory direction and combine it with red onion, cucumber, cilantro, and lime juice for a salsa that would be great on shrimp tacos. Add to salads and grain bowls for sweetness and textural intrigue.
What are the different types of dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit, also called pitaya, pitahaya, or strawberry pear, is native to Central and South America but is now grown in other tropical and subtropical regions in countries like India, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, and the Philippines. There are four different species of dragon fruit. Yellow-skinned and white-fleshed dragon fruits (Selenicereus megalanthus) only have one known variety. The remaining three species have skin that ranges from light to vibrant pink with white flesh (Hylocereus undatus), red or pink flesh (Hylocereus polyrhizus), or bright purple flesh (Hylocereus guatemalensis). There are many dazzling varieties like David Bowie, which has a bubblegum pink outside and bright white inside and Zamorano, which are rounder in shape and have beet red flesh. Most dragon fruits range in size from about four to six inches, but the Voodoo Child variety is smaller and egg-shaped, reminiscent of a prickly pear fruit.
Dragon fruit grows on a type of climbing cactus, so it is part of the Cactaceae family. These cacti have dramatic white flowers that bloom for only one night at a time, inspiring the cactus to be referred to as a “moonflower” or “Lady of the Night.” The plant produces fruit four to six times a year and can continue to do so for up to around 30 years.
VG53: WHY SOME DRAGON FRUITS ARE TASTELESS AND BLAND
FAQ
Why does my dragon fruit have no taste?
Is dragon fruit supposed to taste bland?
What is the real taste of dragon fruit?
Which fruit is tasteless?