Pitaya, also known as pitahaya or dragon fruit, is the fruit of several cactus species native to southern Mexico, Central, and South America. It is now cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including parts of Asia like Vietnam and the Philippines. There are two main genera associated with pitaya fruit:
- Pitaya usually refers to fruit of the genus Stenocereus, which tends to be sour and is eaten in arid regions of the Americas.
- Pitahaya or dragon fruit refers to fruit of the genus Selenicereus (formerly Hylocereus), which commonly have sweet flesh and are recognized by their bright pink or yellow leathery skin with distinctive scaly spikes resembling dragon skin.
The dragon fruit can have white, red, or yellow flesh with small black seeds. Its taste is mildly sweet, often described as a cross between a kiwi and a pear, with a texture similar to a kiwi. It contains a lot of water, important minerals, nutrients, and antioxidants, making it a popular superfruit. Pitaya is known for its striking appearance—brightly colored skin with scale-like outgrowths—and is often eaten fresh, added to smoothies, or used in various dishes and drinks. In summary, pitaya is a unique tropical cactus fruit celebrated both for its visual appeal and its mildly sweet, refreshing taste and nutritional value. It is also commonly called dragon fruit due to the dragon-like appearance of its skin.
