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Mysterious dragonfruit
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Marie Louise Hagen (marielouitje)
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 23 W: 5 N: 20]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-n-s.gif) (229) |
| Genre: Places |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2004-01-26 |
| Categories: Food |
| Camera: Canon PowerShot A70 |
| Exposure: f/4.8, 1/50 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-08-09 4:24 |
| Viewed: 863 |
| Points: 4 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I saw this fruit in Vietnam for the first time. I think it's the most amazing fruit I've ever seen. Those colours! And they taste good too! It is called Dragon Fruit, because of the skin.
Info from wikipedia:
The pitaya (also known as pitahaya, dragon fruit) is the fruit of several cactus species. Native to Mexico and Central and South America, these vine-like epiphytic cacti are also cultivated in Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam. The pitaya only blooms at night; they are large white flowers that are often called Moonflower or Queen of the Night.
The plant has adapted to live in dry tropical climates with a moderate amount of rain. The dragonfruit sets on the cactus-like tree 30-50 days after flowering and can sometimes have 5-6 cycles of harvests per year. There are some farms in Vietnam that produce 30 tons of fruit per hectare every year.
The fruit comes in three types, all with leathery, slightly leafy skin:
- Hylocereus undatus, white flesh with pink skin (like the one on the picture)
- Hylocereus polyrhizus, red flesh with pink skin
- Selenicereus megalanthus, white flesh with yellow skin
The fruit can weigh from 150-600 grams and the flesh, which is eaten raw, is mildly sweet and low in calories. Eating the fruit is sometimes likened to that of the kiwifruit due to a prevalence of sesame seed-sized black crunchy seeds found in the flesh of both fruits which make for a similar texture upon consumption. The fruit may be converted into juice or wine; the flowers can be eaten or steeped as tea. Although the tiny pitaya seeds are eaten with the flesh, the seeds are indigestible. |
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