Dragon Fruit (White Flesh)

Common Name: Dragon fruit (White flesh)
Vernacular Name: Pitaya, Pitahaya, Strawberry pear, huǒ lóng guǒ, Buah naga, Thanh long
Botanical Name: Hylocereus undatus
Specimens From: Malaysia
Specimens Weight: 700 gms [1 lb 8.7 oz]

Dragon fruit. Why would they called a fruit, dragon? If you had seen the plant, you would understand why. It really does looks like a wild dragon, with lots of messy overflowing branches, similar to the dragon wings, scales or hairs. The fruit itself does look like one too. This fruit is believed to be originated from Mexico to northern South America but it has never been resolved.

This is the most common of the three main species of dragon fruit. It has red skin with white flesh. The other two is the red skin/red flesh and the least common, yellow skin/white flesh.

This fruit is also known as the "red pitaya". But do not be confused with the word "red" as it is refering to the red skin and not the flesh. At times, it may mislead you to think it is the other red-fleshed species. There are also various cultivars of dragon fruit and since they do look alike to a layman, I will just put them under their colour classifications.

Do not mix up with another fruit, "Sour Pitayas" of the same "Cactus" family but of a different species, "Stenocereus spp". The inside pulp look very similar red but it is much more sourish in taste and the exterior look is different with numerous small spines!

Dragon fruit is a beautiful fruit and pretty attractive to look at but have to say, most of the time, the white flesh species taste bland. Just cut the fruit into half and scoop it with a spoon. The numerous small, black seeds are edible and crunchy, so don't bother spitting it out.

You may try putting all the pulps into the blender to make a smoothie or blend with milk to make a great milkshake. As some culivars can be quite tasteless, blend it with any sweeter fruit to your taste.


Fruit: White Dragon Fruit ; Hylocereus undatus ; Cactaceae.


Other fruit in the same family: Dragon Fruit[red flesh].


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