What is Dragon Fruit?

What is dragon fruit? Also known as pitaya or strawberry pear, dragon fruit is a tropical fruit in the cactus family. Believed to be native to Central America, it’s also popular in other parts of Latin America and many Southeast Asian countries.

There are different varieties of dragon fruit with varying shapes, sizes, and colors inside and out. The most common variety is pink-skinned with white flesh. You can also find yellow-skinned fruit with white flesh and pink-skinned with varying hues of pink flesh (this variety is somewhat rarer in the U.S.).

Dragon fruit, said to look like a hand grenade or a pinecone, has become super trendy. The flesh is somewhat mild tasting, slightly akin to a delicate berry, kiwi, pear, and watermelon blend. Its demand is likely due to its nutritional benefits (and unique looks). The fruit is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, and is a good source of fiber. Look for fresh or frozen fruit, or frozen smoothie packets at health food or ethnic markets.

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