Red Dragonfruits grow on long, thin, vining cacti that often grow up trees, fences, or walls. From the outside, Red Dragon fruits look almost the same as the ones with white flesh. The oblong, brightly colored fruits are about 10 cm long and can weigh up to a pound. Red Pitahaya fruits, also known as Pitaya Roja, are a type of.
The red-fleshed Dragon fruits (species: Selenicereus costaricensis, Hylocereus polyrhizus, Hylocereus ocamponis / Cereus ocamponis) are harder to find than the yellow-skinned ones, and they aren’t even close to as common as the white-fleshed ones.
Red Dragon fruit are one of the sweetest of the three types and are full of nutrients. The fruit has a sweet and sour flavor and is often used in smoothies, juices, or as a topping for desserts. Pitayas are also high in antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals. People have said that the taste of Red Flesh Dragon fruit is like a cross between a Kiwi and a Pear.
Cultural Info
When pitahaya fruits were brought to Asia in the 1800s, they got their mythical name. Experts think that French missionaries were the first ones to bring pitayas to Southeast Asia and plant them in Vietnam.
After they were brought to Southeast Asia, the colorful cactus fruits spread to China, where growers started selling pitayas as “dragon fruits”. These marketers also made up crazy stories about how the fruits came from dragons. This gave the fruits a strange reputation, which made people even more interested in them. People say that The last breath of a dead dragon turns into a red dragon fruit.
The dying dragon has to put all of his strength into his last flame-filled breath. This flame comes from the dragon’s body near the base of its tail and goes into making the flame-like fruit. After the dragon was killed, the fruit was given as a gift and a sign of victory to the Emperor.
The story also says that soldiers would eat the dragon because they thought the base of the tail was the holiest part. This part of the tail was called the “jaina,” which means “the most delicious and sweet.” In Asian markets, pitahaya fruits are sometimes called jaina because the fruit is thought to have come from that part of the dragon’s body.
Geography and history
Dragon fruits are native to Mexico and Central America, where they have been growing wild since ancient times. The fruits grew well in tropical, subtropical, and even dry areas, and they were brought to the Caribbean, the West Indies, and South America in the early days.
As we say dragonfruit was first brought to Southeast Asia in the early 1800s. At first, only wealthy people and nobles could eat it. Over time, the plants were grown on a large scale for commercial use. They spread all over Asia and were eventually brought to the Middle East and Australia.
In 1830, people also brought Red Dragon fruits to Hawaii. Today, people all over the world grow Red Dragon fruits in their backyards, and they are also grown commercially in Asia, Israel, Australia, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the United States. When they are in season, you can get Red Dragon fruits from specialty distributors, markets, and farm stands.
What does a red-fleshed pitaya taste like?
The average size of a Red pitahaya is between 4 and 9 centimeters across, and it has an oval or oblong shape. The skin of the fruit can be bright pink, fuchsia, or red-brown. It is almost smooth and waxy, and it is covered with fleshy scales that overlap and have green tips. The scales are curved and have a triangular shape. Most Red Dragon fruit have narrower scales.
When the fruit is cut in half, the thin skin is easy to peel off, revealing a dark red to crimson flesh with many tiny black seeds that can be eaten. The flesh is dense, semi-firm, and tender, and it has a watery texture. The crunchy, chewy seeds make it feel like a kiwi.
When it’s ready, a red dragon fruit should be tight, shiny, and a bright color. It won’t smell much, if at all. The flesh tastes light, sweet, earthy, and slightly acidic, and the seeds add a hint of nuttiness.
Nutrition and health benefits
Red Dragon fruits are a good source of vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system. They are also a good source of fiber, which keeps the digestive system working well, potassium, which keeps the body’s fluid levels balanced, and phosphorus, which keeps bones and teeth healthy.
The fruits also have antioxidants, magnesium and iron in them, and they have a lot of betacyanins and lycopene. Pitaya is a rich source of fiber, which helps to keep you full and can help regulate blood sugar levels. Red pitaya also contains a chemical called hesperidin. Hesperidin has been shown to have blood-thinning properties.
What are ways to use?
Pitaya is a superfood that has been used for centuries in Asia to treat a wide range of ailments. Red pitaya contains hesperidin, which may help prevent blood clots. Pitaya’s antioxidants are thought to promote heart health. Pitaya is a good source of fiber and vitamin C. It also contains potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Red Dragon fruits taste mild, sweet, and a little bit earthy. They can be eaten fresh or cooked. Usually, the fruits are eaten right out of hand, cut in half, and eaten with a spoon right from the rind.
Red Dragon fruits can also be used to make fruit and acai bowls, salads, slaws, or a tasty topping or side dish when mixed with peppers and spices. Try adding Red Dragon fruits to pancake batter to make a breakfast dish with a pink color.
You can also blend red dragon fruits to make smoothies or freeze them to make popsicles, ice cream, and sorbet. Red Dragon fruits can be eaten fresh, but they can also be cooked down into syrups and sauces and added to cookies, cakes, macaroons, and other sweets.
It is important to remember that the red pigment in the flesh will stain skin, surfaces, and clothes, so care should be taken. In mixology, Red Dragon fruits are used to color drinks, add flavor, and decorate them. You can also cut the flesh into cubes, freeze them, and drop them into champagne to give it a pink color.
Aside from the fruit, the young flower buds can be cooked and served as vegetables, and the dried flowers can be used to make herbal tea. Red Dragon fruits go well with pineapples, strawberries, bananas, coconut, blueberries, white fish, shrimp, crab, tofu, rice, sesame, cashews, shallots, and garlic.
Red Dragon fruits that are still whole and haven’t been opened can be kept at room temperature for a few days or in a plastic bag in the fridge for one to two weeks. Flesh that has been cut into slices or cubes can be frozen and used later.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the red-fleshed pitaya (Hylocereus costaricenes) is a delicious and nutritious fruit that is worth trying. It is low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The pitaya can be eaten fresh or frozen and is a great addition to smoothies, yogurt bowls, and other recipes. So go ahead and give the red-fleshed pitaya a try!
