Dragon fruit, also known as Pitaya or Pitahaya, is a member of the cactus family, and is botanically found in two separate genera: Hylocereus and Selenicereus. However, the most commonly cultivated varieties are in the genus, Hylocereus, including the white-fleshed fruit, Hylocereus undatus.

What type of fruit is pitaya?

Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is a beautiful tropical cactus fruit that is a cousin to the cactus pear. Although it is the fruit of a cactus, it does not have any spines or needles on the outer skin.

What is the difference between dragon fruit and pitaya?

In fact, pitaya is the fruit that grows on a cactus species that is indigenous to the Americas. Dragon fruit is the new name for pitaya, and is the more common and widely used name for the fruit!

Is pitaya a cactus fruit?

While you may not initially equate “cactus” with “edible,” the dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is indeed borne on a cactus. When the fruit is cut open, the flesh is revealed to be snow-white and peppered with tiny, edible black seeds throughout — quite a contrast to the exterior.

Is it pitaya or pitahaya?

In Israel, where the fruit is commercially grown and being imported into the U.S., the growers like to call it “pitaya” or “pitahaya,” while the Vietnamese growers label theirs “dragon fruit.” So, whether you see them called pitaya, pitahaya, or dragon fruit, they are all basically the same fruit.

What is the difference between pitaya and acai?

Like the açaí berry, pitaya is high in antioxidants, fiber and tons of vitamins. The biggest difference between the pitaya and the açaí is the taste. Pitaya is slightly sweeter naturally and more like a watermelon taste as opposed to the açaí which is like a blackberry. Another difference is the color.

What is pitaya made of?

Dragon fruit, also called pitaya, is a beautiful tropical fruit, full of fiber, and bursting with nutrients that has been found to boost immunity, prevent cancer, and slow aging.

Is a dragon fruit a pitaya?

Dragon fruit grows on the Hylocereus cactus, also known as the Honolulu queen, whose flowers only open at night. The plant is native to southern Mexico and Central America. Today, it is grown all over the world. It goes by many names, including pitaya, pitahaya, and strawberry pear.

Why is dragon fruit called pitaya?

These fruits are commonly known in English as “dragon fruit”, a name used since around 1963, apparently resulting from the leather-like skin and prominent scaly spikes on the fruit exterior.

What is a Mexican Pitaya?

Mexican Pitaya is a form of Dragonfruit that grows exclusively in Jalisco, Mexico. A sweet flavor with the texture similar to that of a Kiwi.

Is a Pitaya illegal?

Banned: Importation of the raw fruit is banned in the U.S. Reason: This pear-shaped fruit — the national fruit of Jamaica — contains toxins that can suppress the body’s ability to release an extra supply of glucose, plunging one’s blood sugar level and potentially leading to death.

Are Tunas and Pitayas the same thing?

The tunas blancas are actually honeydew melon green, and not white, as the literally translated name might suggest. The red fruits, when ripe, are much sweeter, but have larger, more abundant seeds. Pitayas rarely reach the size of tunas, and they generally grow in much smaller, less easily harvested numbers.

Is dragon fruit an angiosperm?

Phylum Magnoliophyta: Dragon fruit is apart of the Magnoliophyta (or Anthophyta) because it is a flowering plant. Members of this phylum are also known as angiosperms, since they produce covered seeds. Family Cactaceae: Dragon fruit belong to the cactus family.

How do you eat a Pitaya?

Peel and cut it into sections when you’re ready to eat it. Much like an avocado, you eat the flesh and discard the skin. You could also cut it in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon or melon baller. Dragon fruit is best eaten raw, but you can throw it on the grill like some other fruits.

Is Pitaya or acai better for you?

Pitaya has high amounts of vitamin C, iron, and magnesium. Vitamin A helps out with a wide assortment of bodily functions and systems, including the immune, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. Acai also has less sugar, which leads to the most noticeable difference between the two fruits.