An overview of the exotic fruit - pitahaya: what it looks like, where it grows, what is its usefulness, chemical composition and taste, the calorie content of dragonfruit and interesting facts. Dragon fruit or pitahaya is the fruit of a plant from the cactus family, a relative of sweet pitaya. The plant itself does not look like an ordinary tree or palm, it is an epiphytic liana-like climbing cactus. The birthplace of such a bizarre cactus is Mexico, America (Center and South). Now the plant is cultivated in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries of Southeast Asia and Australia. There are some other names for the fruit that it is called in Asia - pitahaya, dragonfruit and pitahaya.
In the photo, a pitahaya tree with fruits. Pitahaya blooms exclusively at night with white fragrant flowers. After 30-50 days, fruits with a sweet creamy pulp and a pleasant delicate aroma are tied on the trees. It is difficult to imagine, but one such cactusoliana can bear fruit up to 6 times a year (approximately 30 tons per hectare).
Dragon fruit appearance and taste
Exotic fruits also look exotic, pitaya is no exception: bright pink the size of a large apple, elongated, covered with large scales with bright green ends, there is also an external resemblance to a small pineapple. The average weight of the fetus is 300-500 grams, there are also larger ones up to a kilogram. The shell is soft, it is easy to cut it with an ordinary knife. Depending on the variety, the tender pulp is also multi-colored - from purple to colorless (white). Inside it there are a lot of small bones, like in kiwi, they are practically not felt in the mouth.
There are many varieties of dragon fruit. They all differ in shape, size, color (pulp and peel), even in the number of scales on the skin. The most common types:
- Red pitahaya, with a bright pink shell and white flesh. Its taste is more bland with herbal notes of aroma;
- Costa Rican, with red skin and red flesh;
- Yellow, with a yellow shell and white inside. This is the sweetest variety of pitahaya and the most fragrant (I have not found it in Thailand).
If we compare the taste of dragon fruit with fruits that are already common for us, then we can define it as kiwi-banana. Although the taste is barely noticeable, there are fruits that are almost tasteless. They choose ripe pitahaya for eating. It is soft to the touch (evenly over the entire surface). There should be no obvious dents or rotten spots. Red varieties have a distinctive feature: the darker the color of the peel, the richer the taste.
How to peel and eat dragon fruit:
- like a banana, separate the peel with your hands (pull on the upper scales) and eat the pulp like an apple;
- cut into slices and eat slices like an orange;
- cut the rind without touching the flesh and peel it off as you eat the inside.
The chemical composition of the pitahaya
Dragon fruit is best eaten fresh, but in some countries it is used to make jams, sorbet and sauces. For example, in Mexico, it is used to make excellent wine. Pitahaya is a dietary product, 100 g of dragon fruit pulp contains no more than 50 kcal, as well as:
- Fat - 0.1? 0.58 g
- Proteins - 0.52 g
- Carbohydrates - 10 × 13.5 g
- Fiber - 0.35 × 0.9 g
- Water - up to 90 g
- Ash - 0.5 g
Vitamins and trace elements in the composition of dragonfruit:
- Vitamin C - 5 mg to 25 mg
- B3 - from 0.2 mg to 0.4 mg
- Iron - from 0.35 mg to 0.69 mg
- Potassium - 110 mg -115 mg
- Phosphorus - 15.5 mg to 35 mg
- Calcium - 6 mg to 9.5 mg
Useful properties of pitahaya
This is not just a beautiful exotic fruit, but also healthy. It works especially well for gastrointestinal problems (such as bloating). The pulp of the pitahaya is very watery with the presence of small seeds, which almost always causes diarrhea. But this is not bad, the intestines also need to be cleaned. The small black seeds themselves are rich in tannin - this is good for vision. The pulp of a ripe dragon fruit contains calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamins B and C. All this is good for the endocrine and cardiovascular systems, patients with diabetes can safely eat the fruit, it lowers blood glucose.
Due to its low calorie content, pitahaya is used in diet recipes, it brings satiety, but does not add fat cells.
In perfumery and cosmetics, the dragon fruit has also found its use: in shampoos, creams and masks.
Contraindications for pitahaya
Eating exotic fruits should be treated with caution. For example, a large amount of pitahaya can cause flatulence or heartburn, for some, the pulp is generally contraindicated and can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, if you are eating dragon fruit for the first time, then you need to start trying it with small portions. It is better for babies not to give food unusual for them at all, the likelihood of diathesis is high.
Do not be alarmed if, after a large amount of eaten dragon fruit, the urine turns reddish (if you eat red fruits). Diarrhea is also possible.
Interesting Facts
According to the eastern legend, the dragon fruit was once used by dragons instead of fire. They spewed it out of their mouths when they could no longer breathe fire. The fruit looks like the scales of an ancient monster and was hidden deep inside its body, which is why it tasted so good. According to Eastern legend, the love of people for this taste killed all dragons.
White flowers of the cactus-cactus pitahaya are brewed in drinks, in tea.
Eating the pulp of a dragon fruit is better when chilled, and the taste becomes brighter.
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Attention, just do not try to peel the pitahaya, as it is the first fruit - like a potato, so no one from the locals does it, this is 100% stupidity, she threw out half of the fruit and, even with a knife, suffered. It is enough just to pull the upper petals with your hands, the peel is very easy to remove, and then cut the fruit as you wish (I showed it in the photo above).
