What Does Dragon Fruit Taste Like?

If you love exotic fruits as much as I do, then you’re bound to become a fan of dragon fruit! Being extremely juicy and having the ultimate taste, dragon fruit is an absolute treat of a fruit! But if you haven’t gotten a chance to indulge in this exotic delight, you must be wondering, what does dragon fruit taste like?

Dragon fruit has a sweet taste to it. It feels fresh on your tongue and the sweetness contained in the fruit is mild. Some might even go as far as to say that dragon fruit tastes like water. What dragon fruit actually tastes like depends on your preference of flavors and the dominance of your taste buds.

Be it smoothies or fruit bowls; dragon fruit works well in anything and everything. Not only does it come in several varieties, but this fruit also provides various health benefits if consumed. All in all, dragon fruit is a super delicious and versatile fruit.

So, now that you’re a bit more familiar with dragon fruit, I’m sure you’re craving to know more. In this article, we’ll discuss what exactly dragon fruit is, its taste, its several varieties, etc. So, without any further delay, let’s get right into it!

What Is Dragon Fruit?

Dragon fruit is a fruit that looks and tastes like no other. Eating a fresh, ripe dragon fruit is an experience of its own. Being the underdog in the fruit scene, dragon fruit is a must-try for you if you love everything exotic! (There’s even a chance of it being Daenerys Targaryen’s favorite fruit, you never know!)

Dragon fruit belongs to the Cactaceae family. It is also known as pitahaya and grows in the tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. This fruit has a vibrant look with bright colors along with scales on the exterior, like that of a dragon. Dragon fruit has a leather-like and leafy exterior texture. Its weight falls in the range of 400-600 grams.

What Does Dragon Fruit Taste Like?

The next time you buy a dragon fruit based on its looks, you won’t have to regret it! Why? Because you’d have an idea about what a dragon fruit tastes like after reading this article!

Dragon fruit has a mild sweet taste and is super fresh. Its taste is often described as the perfect blend of kiwi and pear. The degree of sweetness varies among the different varieties of dragon fruit. Overall, dragon fruit has a rare not-so-harsh tropical flavor.

Dragon fruit is known for its mild and delicate flavor. It is extremely juicy and has a firm as well as creamy texture. Dragon fruit has tiny black seeds similar to kiwi seeds. These provide a slight crunch to the fruit and are delightful to bite on. Although the taste doesn’t quite compare to dragon fruit’s vibrant appearance, it is still a delicious fruit.

Why Do Dragon Fruits Taste Like Nothing?

While dragon fruit is one of the most beautiful looking fruits, with its vibrant color and appearance, the flavor of this fruit doesn’t hold up to the expectations of people. Dragon fruit has a flavor which doesn’t match up to its appealing looks.

Dragon fruit doesn’t necessarily taste like nothing. This fruit has an absent flavor, even though it feels really clean and fresh on the mouth and is a good detox for your taste buds. It can taste a bit bland and a bit like watery kiwi. So, if you’re looking for some rejuvenating addition to your balanced diet, then dragon fruit is your way to go!

Does Dragon Fruit Taste Good?

Dragon fruit has a subtle taste. If you’re someone who loves mild flavors, then dragon fruit would definitely taste good to you. Having a predominantly clean taste, dragon fruit is mildly sweet. It tastes like the perfect blend of juicy kiwis and pears. The flavor combined with the creamy and overall rich texture of dragon fruit takes the taste of this fruit to a whole other level.

Does Dragon Fruit Taste Like Banana?

Dragon fruit doesn’t taste like banana. It isn’t as sweet as a banana and tastes more like a blend of watery and mildly sweet kiwi and pear. Its flavor is almost negligible and it is absolutely refreshing, something you wouldn’t find in a banana.

Which Dragon Fruit Is The Sweetest?

Out of all the five types of dragon fruit, the yellow dragon fruit is the sweetest. Yellow dragon fruit, also referred to as yellow pitahaya, is one of the rarest varieties of dragon fruit. It is most desirable due to its sweetness and juiciness. Thus, if you’re looking forward to buying a dragon fruit, go for the yellow one!

What Does Dragon Fruit Taste Like In A Smoothie?

Dragon fruit tastes amazingly good in a smoothie. Due to its creamy texture and rich mouthfeel, it makes up for one of the best base fruits in a smoothie. Having a tropical flavor, dragon fruit takes the taste of smoothie to another level. Not only that but the vibrant color of dragon fruit makes the smoothie look even more delicious!

What Does Dragon Fruit Taste Like When It Goes Bad?

Dragon fruit develops a moderate flavor in its white flesh if it goes bad. The pink or reddish part of the fruit tastes sweeter and juicier than usual if the fruit goes bad. Other indicators of bad dragon fruit are foul smell, mushy or extra soft texture of the fruit, color of the skin turning magenta or dark purple.

5 Different Types Of Dragon Fruit And Their Different Taste

You can never have enough good things in life. Complying with that, you’d be delighted to know the different varieties of dragon fruit. Varying in color, flavor, etc., each variety of dragon fruit is unique in its own way!

There are 5 different varieties of dragon fruit and their taste are:-

1. White Dragon Fruit

White dragon fruit has a bland taste. It doesn’t have any strong or harsh flavors and is the least sweet of all the other varieties of dragon fruit.

White dragon fruit is also known as Hylocereus Undatus. It is pink from the outside and white from the inside. Being the most common of all the varieties, white dragon fruit is rich in antioxidants and is super refreshing. So, this summer season beat the heat with white dragon fruit!

2. Red Dragon Fruit

Red dragon fruit has a complex taste. It is acidic, sweet, and flavorful, along with an earthy tone to it. Incredibly juicy, red dragon fruit can easily become your favorite!

Red dragon fruit is also known as Hylocereus Polyrhizus. It has a pink exterior with purple flesh. Its red juice can easily stain anything, so be careful while handling it. Red dragon fruit is commonly harvested in Nicaragua and is available for sale from the summer season to fall. 

3. Pink Dragon Fruit

Pink dragon fruit has a moderate sweet taste to it. It is juicy and has a clean taste.

Pink dragon fruit is also known by the name of Hylocereus Guatemalensis. It has a pink outer skin along with a pink interior. This variety of dragon fruit is usually found in Central America and works well in smoothies, cocktails, etc.

4. Yellow Dragon Fruit

Yellow dragon fruit has a sweet taste. It is the sweetest out of all the other varieties of dragon fruit and is really juicy.

Yellow dragon fruit is also known as Selenicereus Megalanthus. It stands out among all the other varieties of dragon fruit. This is because it has a yellow exterior with white flesh on the inside. It is the rarest variety of dragon fruit, so if you find some, make sure to buy one!

5. Sour Dragon Fruit

Sour dragon fruit, as the name suggests, has a sour taste. It is the least sweet out of all the other varieties of dragon fruit.

Sour dragon fruit is also known as Stenocereus (Not a dinosaur, trust me). It has pink outer skin with white flesh on the inside. It is found in the arid and semi-arid regions of America and is the sourest out of all the dragon fruit varieties.

Things To Look For When Buying Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit tastes best when it is fresh and ripe. But how to tell if a dragon fruit is ripe and ready to be eaten? Given below are the list of things you should look for when buying dragon fruit.

1. Dragon fruit should be firm and should give a little when squeezed. If you come across a hard dragon fruit, it is probably unripe and you should let it ripen for a few days.
2. The skin of the dragon fruit should be bright in color, with the tips of its scales being yellow or brown with a dry appearance.
3. The skin should not have any blemishes, brown spots or any shriveled stems.

How To Store Dragon Fruit Properly For Best Taste?

There are various ways you can go about storing dragon fruit. Depending on factors like time duration, cut, etc., you can opt for the most suitable method of storing dragon fruit. Given below are some of the storage methods you can use to store dragon fruit properly for best taste. Take a look!

1. For 2-3 Days

If you intend on putting your dragon fruit to use in the upcoming days, then you should just leave it in the kitchen at room temperature. This will help in maintaining the freshness of the fruit and will elevate its overall taste. Make sure that the dragon fruit isn’ t cut or peeled, even slightly. Also, keep the dragon fruit away from sunlight and moisture.

2. For 1-2 Weeks

If you plan on storing your dragon fruit for a week or two, then you should just refrigerate it. Keep the peel on, put it in an airtight container or plastic bag and refrigerate it to keep it fresh.

3. For 3-6 Months

If you’re in a bit of pickle about what to do with all the excess dragon fruit you have, you should freeze it. All you need to do is cut the dragon fruit into cubes and put them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Maintain some distance between the cubes when placing them on the sheet and put it in the freezer for a night.

Take the frozen dragon fruit cubes out of the freezer the next day and seal them in a plastic bag and store them in the freezer.

4. If Dragon Fruit Has Been Cut

If you have some extra cut dragon fruit and want to store it for later use, then you can use this little hack to keep it fresh and usable. All you need to do is drizzle a bit of lemon juice on the flesh of the dragon fruit. This will prevent the growth of bacteria and will keep the fruit fresh for a longer period of time.

Culinary Uses Of Dragon Fruit

Now that you know the different varieties of dragon fruit and what they taste like, let’s now learn about how you can use this exotic fruit. Filled with juiciness and a flavor like no other, dragon fruit can easily be incorporated into various recipes.

Dragon fruit is one of the best fruits you can add to your smoothies. You can stir up some delicious drinks with dragon fruit and add them to cocktails. Dragon fruit doesn’t have an overpowering flavor, which comes in use when you add it to salads and fruit bowls. You can even grill some dragon fruit kebabs – an exotic dish for exotic fruit. 

No matter what you do with dragon fruit, you’re certain to have a delicious time!

Nutritional Content Of Dragon Fruit

With delicious taste comes loads of nutrition! That’s true when it comes to dragon fruit! Offering several nutrients in a tropical fruit, dragon fruit is the best healthy treats you can get your hands on!

Dragonfruit (6-ounce) has around 102 calories, zero fat content, and good protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. It is also rich in antioxidants, provides hydration and also helps in strengthening the immune system.

Conclusion

Dragon fruit is an exotic fruit. Loaded with several nutrients, dragon fruit comes in five different varieties – white, pink, red, yellow and sour. Each variety has its own properties and differs in flavor. Dragon fruit tastes like a combination of kiwi and pear, making it super juicy and refreshing!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)