Fruit
Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit (pitaya/pitahaya) is the fruit of climbing cacti (Hylocereus and Selenicereus). Bright pink or yellow leathery skin with leafy scales hides white or deep magenta flesh speckled with tiny edible black seeds. Flavour is mild—subtly sweet, faintly floral—more about cool crunch and colour than intense perfume when underripe; fully ripe fruit is juicier and sweeter. Eat chilled, scooped from the skin, blended into smoothies, cubed in fruit salads, or used for vivid magenta desserts and drinks. Magenta flesh stains beautifully; white flesh is subtler on the plate. Ripen at room temperature until the skin yields slightly and scales look less rigid, then refrigerate. Avoid fruit with large soft bruises or fermented smell.
Track this ingredient
Cuts & parts
Breeds & varieties
A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.
Characteristics
Preparations
Provenance
Sources
Traits
Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 0.28 g
- Saturated Fat 0.05 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.1 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 4.8 mg
- Salt 0.01 g
- Total Carbohydrate 13.9 g
- Dietary Fibre 2.05 g
- Total Sugars 9.53 g
- Complex / starch 0.94 g
- Protein 0.85 g
- Water 78.4 g
- Energy 52.5 kcal
- Water 78.4 g
- Carbohydrates 13.9 g
- Sugars 9.53 g
- Monosaccharides 6.68 g
- Disaccharides 2.86 g
- Starch 0.94 g
- Amylose 0.24 g
- Amylopectin 0.71 g
- Digestible Starch 0.8 g
- Resistant Starch 0.09 g
- Fibre 2.05 g
- Soluble Fibre 0.72 g
- Insoluble Fibre 1.33 g
- Protein 0.85 g
- Plant Protein 0.81 g
- Fat 0.28 g
- Saturated Fat 0.05 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.1 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1 g
- Vitamins 78.8 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.03 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.04 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 0.41 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.08 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 1 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 14.9 µg
- Vitamin C 37 mg
- Vitamin E 0.29 mg
- Vitamin K 4.8 µg
- Minerals 495 mg
- Major Minerals 489 mg
- Trace Minerals 6.1 mg
- Salt 0.01 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.01 g
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 37 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.03 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.04 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 0.41 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.2 · vitamin-b6: 0.08 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 1 · vitamin-b9-folate: 14.9 · vitamin-e: 0.29 · vitamin-k: 4.8 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 4.8 · Potassium: 432 · Calcium: 52 · Iron: 0.7 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 5 ·
Fruit energy is mostly natural sugars with fibre and vitamin C varying by species.
In the kitchen
Culinary partners and combinations that usually underperform with Dragon Fruit.
Usually avoid with
Often clash in flavour or tradition
History
Dragon Fruit was used as a fruit food in regional diets long before industrial packing and global year-round supply.
Trade, migration, and selection spread distinctive Dragon Fruit types and preparations into new climates and cuisines.
Modern production, storage, and transport made Dragon Fruit a regular purchase far from where it is grown or raised.
Cooks now treat Dragon Fruit as both staple and specialty, with more attention to provenance, variety, and form.