Dragon fruit a type of cactus has been gaining popularity over the past few years as a “superfruit” Low in calories and high in antioxidants, vitamin c, calcium and phosphorus. When choosing a dragon fruit look for one that is as firm as a ripening kiwi, too soft and it may be past prime. If your dragonfruit is firm you’ll have to wait a few days before eating. Most people find dragon fruit’s taste to be a cross between a kiwi and pear. It’s a very easy fruit to eat. Cut in half and then scoop out the inside white (might be red too!) and slice or eat how you want. Please note that the skin is NOT to be eaten and isn’t considered edible.
Have you ever eaten dragonfruit?
I love dragonfruit, but it is not easy to find. At least not in the “normal” stores
Zehrs is carrying them in our area, which is great!
Loblaws is carrying them in the GTA right now! very yummy.
Kinda funny that this was posted right now because I just bought the first one ever today and was JUST Googling how to cut it (I’m not going to eat it – I’m going to puree it for my baby daughter) and as soon as I closed Google I came on here to see this.
I’ve seen these at our united supermarket, always wondered what it would be like… might have to try it!
I just ate these during Lunar New Year! I find that the ones in Vietnam taste sweeter than the ones here.
omg! i just looked this up like 2 days ago because i saw them in the grocery store and was very intrigued! i’ve only had dragonfruit in fruit punch before, so to actually see it was very cool…next time i see, i’m gonna get one!
It has tiny little ‘seed’ like bits in it, so I would not suggest it as a puree for an infant. Eating it sliced up, chilled is great. I find the centre is sweeter than the outer area. And also the sweetness varies fruit to fruit. I have not find out a way to judge the sweetness before cutting and eating.
I have 4 boys and our whole family LOVE Dragonfruit! I concider them tasting just like a kiwi but not as tangy. They don’t last long in our house! LOL
I tried it a few years ago and it was tasteless and expensive. Maybe I got a bad one?
Dragonfruit adds so much contrast & interest to a fruit platter! A few yrs ago they used to be $6 ea. but lately have seen them everywhere (FB, Loblaws, WM) for $2-$3! Luv it!
I have been eating these for years. I’ve purchased them at regular supermarkets many times. The amount of times the clerk doesn’t know what they are outweighs the clerks that do know. I think everyone should try them at least once…they are very Tasty!
I just tried my first one last month when I was in Florida. I honestly didn’t care for it, neither did the kids. It was okay, but lacked flavor, sure is pretty though!! I just found it bland. The clerk suggested freezing it and scooping it like ice-cream, she said it was real good that way. May try it again.
Now starfruit – is delicious – wish they carried it here.
I got a fair-sized dragonfruit about 2 weeks ago for $1.88 at Metro (on sale) to test because it’s the Chinese year of the dragon, doncha know.
Observations:
1) Vaguely pretty in uncut form.
2) Extremely beautiful when cut in two to expose the white pulp and black seed studded centre.
3) Served sliced, it was very mildly flavoured and slightly sweet. The tiny black seed thingies were pleasing in taste when chewed, mild and vaguely fatty in nature.
4) My husband, the fruit lover in the house, was unimpressed with the taste of dragonfruit (too bland for him.)
Verdict:
Unlikely to purchase again for general household snacking. Might buy it to serve sliced as an extra visual embellishment and conversation starter on a fruit platter served to guests.
I love dragon fruit. I agree they are really expensive. I will just have to wait for the Asian grocery stores to have them on sale for .99 cents.
I know it has the seeds, similar to kiwi and she has done fine with kiwi and every other fruit 🙂 the baby bullet blends up the seeds a bit too.
i have always wanted to try dragonfruit, and i saw them at superstore the other day. after seeing this article, i want to try it even more. i’ve seen it in yogurt before too. yum!
I think they are pretty much flavourless!
We were in Asia about 3 months ago and we ate these all the time… they are great. Yes they can be a little on the bland side from time to time but overall a very nice light texture/flavour with a bit of sweetness. The best way to open them, actually, is to cut the top off then peel it like an orange.
They are Great, these fruits are from a cactus Family plant, come also in Yellow, in Latin American countries is called “Pitahaya” or “Pitaya”, for me they both yellow and red dragon fruit taste the some. This fruit has mild laxative powers and most of its power is its seeds the more you chew this little, poppy seeds like, seeds the faster you’ll have to run to the bathroom, lol and No, please do not puree it.
The flesh of this fruit is so soft and the seeds so small that no one would have any trouble eating them, but remember, do not over chew them seeds. usually the flesh is whitish transparent with very little black seeds,spreaded out into it, but some species of this plant have fruits with reddish flesh, still they taste pretty similar difficult to discern which one is which one.
Thanks
my colleague and his wife – super health nuts – invited us over for dinner and she cut then up into chunks and stir fry them with prawns. It doesn’t add much flavour to the prawn dish but it makes it look soooo pretty.
I usually buy 2 or 3 coz i only hit a good one 1 time out of 2 or 3. Sometimes i sadly hit 0 out of 2 LOL. Would appreciate any advice on how to pick a good one… sometimes i see them with syrupy marks on the outside and not sure if that means they’re overripe or just right. I think i tried intentionally picking a syrupy-marked one once and it turned out really overripe and a bit sour.
Loooove DragonFruit. It is my daughters favorites. Don’t buy it when its by the pound though, its not worth it. Metro had them yesterday for $2.99, they were $1.88 the week before. They are very hard to find and not one produce clerk could tell me when they were actually in season. I agree with Bev, I would not use this as a baby food. They have 100 times more seeds then Kiwi and they are a pain to get off a baby’s bum.
Just saw Dragon Fruit being used in a Sweet Genius challenge the other day. I think some of the pastry chefs were initially stumped on how to use it in their desserts. Definitely an intriguing looking fruit, so curious I think I’m going to try it this week.
@roars…good advice about the seeds, didn’t know that and thanks for the warning 🙂
Dragonfruit is awesome. I found some cool dragonfruit products
At http://www.pitayaplus.com.
When I first heard the term “Dragon Fruit” on a cooking show, I thought they were joking! I don’t know much about fruits, as I’m more of a vegetable person, so I really thought it was a joke.
I don’t know what kiwi tastes like either, or how to tell if it’s fresh. But I’m trying to expand what foods I eat (but it’s hard because I can’t keep 95% of what I eat down), but I think I may givedragon fruit a try (and maybe kiwi, too, if I’m feeling adventurous) since they look so interesting!
Thanks for the advice on how to eat one. Half the time I look at a fruit and go, “And what part of this DO I eat…?” (We only had apples, oranges, and bananas as children, so I’m not pre-exposed to most…)
Love Dragonfruit … tried it about 3 years ago and keep and eagle eye out for it at the market ever since!
Too bad its so expensive, but I also allow myself at least one a season ! 🙂
I first had dragonfruit at a chinese restaurant. Nobody there knew what it was. I found it very bland, almost tasteless. I`ve never bothered buying one.
It’s good but it’s usually cr5azy over priced, and not decent quality. I got one at Freshco for 3 bucks once to treat myself (I ate them often when I lived in Mexico) and it just was not the same. Also noticed most of the ones in stores here are coming from Asia instead of the south.
must be in season if it was 1.88 at metro, I’ve only seen them for $4-8. I have only bought it twice, the first was bland and the second time it had a bit of taste to it, saved some seeds and I’m growing one slowly
Tried one for the first time at Farm Boy in Ottawa just last week….Wow – it was so good! Farm Boy was good enough to cut one open and let us try it. Delicious.
Picked some up at Oriental Foodmart in Markham last year. How can something so beautiful taste so boring?
My spirit of adventure has taken me to many places. I actually crave Lichees every now and then, occasionally eat raw (fresh) peanuts, have introduced others to kumquats and so on, but dragon fruit won`t be making a come back at my house. Maybe I didn’t get the right ones…
nofrills has them too
Hello everyone,
I have Dragon Fruit, if you are interested! I agree that in fresh form it might be a bit bland, but freeze dried, is crunchy and has a very intense flavor.
I just launched with a friend, a healthy snack company goVida, and we are bringing this amazing fruit in freeze dried form mixed with gooseberries in a convenient snack bag. I am originally from South America, and had been longing for the diversity of fruits there…. I hope people like our snack and enjoy the exotic fruit!
You can order online with free shipping at http://www.govidafoods.com
Claudia
Our grocery stores here in the county ( Prince Edward County ) has been selling them or 2.99 to 3.99, I can’t get enouph of them! But they do usually cost about 7.99, Wish i could grow one in my home!
Dragon fruit skin is edible and is not toxic I’ve been eating it since I came to Germany.
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