Why Is Pitaya Called Dragon Fruit?
Why it is nicknamed dragon fruit? According to legend, mythical creatures that breathe fire have created this fruit. During the battle with the dragon, the last thing that came out of his breathing fire mouth was the dragon fruit. When the dragon was killed, the fruit was gathered and presented to the Emperor as a symbol of victory.
The characteristic skin of the fruit is hard and with large “scales”. It can easily remind us of a large reptile such as a dragon. Internationally, pitahaya is known as dragon fruit ( dragon fruit ) because the plant that produces it climbs the trunks of trees and intertwines, giving the shape of a dragon’s body.
In terms of appearance, you’re most likely to come across a pitaya fruit with green scales, a pink peel, and a white inside covered in black seeds. Alternatively, you might find pitayas with a magenta-colored inside covered by a yellow peel.
The Pitahaya
The name of the original is pitahaya, or pitaya originates from America. It’s not entirely specific about where it came from it comes from, even though Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and the Antilles are all considered. This is the place where the Spanish conquerors found this in nature. What exactly is it? It is the cactus’s fruit. A bizarre, thick, fuchsia-colored skin is covered with black nuggets which appear like the shape of stracciatella. The skin is covered with a type of scales reminiscent of pineapple.
The one we have described is the red pitahaya that has white-fleshed. There are two additional types: red-fleshed with white-fleshed yellow pitahaya. The yellow variety is common in regions with high temperatures like Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru. On the other hand, we can find the red variety (which is less sweet than the one before it) in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Vietnam.
It is consumed in many ways. It can be eaten as a natural food or drank in smoothies, juices, or juices. A lot of people prefer eating by spoon as the kiwi. Another excellent idea is to add it to yogurt or fruit salads. It can also be utilized in the making of other items like sweets, ice cream jams, jellies, soft drinks, and jellies.
Nutritional Properties
- In terms of nutritional properties, it is similar to the kiwi, with its main virtues being the water content and a minimum caloric intake.
- In the case of the pitahaya, we are talking about 54 calories, and in the case of the kiwi, 52.
- It is rich in vitamin C, although in a smaller proportion than the kiwi.
- Closer examination reveals that the dragon fruit contains numerous antioxidants that protect cells from free radicals, which cause aging and disease. It’s also rich in vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K as well as manganese and copper—all of these vitamins are essential for healthy body functions.
- In addition, this vitamin is essential for the formation of red blood cells and collagen.
- Other benefits are that it helps control weight and blood glucose levels.
- In fact, pitahaya has always been considered a powerful aphrodisiac (not just in the U.S.) because of its special qualities. In Mexico, it is believed that eating this fruit will help you lose weight faster than any diet or exercise program because of its thermogenic action in the body. That is, it generates heat and speeds up metabolism (the process by which the body burns energy). This helps burn off more calories than normal. Thus, pitahaya can be considered a good ally for those who are trying to lose weight.
- Also, it contains a substance called tyramine. This activates the release of a hormone called glucagon. The result is that sugar and fat reserves are transformed into energy. Pitahaya is thus an incredibly effective way to get a boost of energy when you’re feeling sluggish, especially if you’re on a diet.
- We can also talk about helping digestion due to its high fiber content.
- It is valuable to combat cardiovascular diseases.
Is Dragon Fruit and Pitaya the Same Thing?
Though it’s grown in different parts of the world, pitaya is the exact same fruit. So, whether you see them called pitaya, pitahaya, or dragon fruit, they are all basically the same fruit. The variety is known by names such as cactus pear and strawberry pear, though it’s not a pear at all.
The origin of dragon fruit (also called pitaya or pitahaya) is just as colorful as its name. In Vietnam, it’s believed that the fruit can bring about a long and happy marriage when served to newlyweds on their wedding night. It was also said to promote virility when eaten by men.
The fruit got its name in Vietnam because the elongated seed pod resembles a dragon’s head while it dries out and becomes hard like a dragon’s scales. The “dragon” connection comes from China where its name translates as “the fruit of the cactus.” The dried seed pods were thought to be similar to the Chinese symbol for longevity, which looks like a dragon.
Is Dragon Fruit Also Called Pitaya?
Pitaya, dragon fruit and strawberry pear are all names for the same fruit: Hylocereus undatus. The various names can be confusing, and the differences between them can depend on where you live. In the West Indies, pitaya is the most common name for this plant and fruit, but in other places around the world, it goes by the names dragon fruit or strawberry pear.
Although dragon fruit is called fruit and commonly thought to be related to the melon family, this isn’t quite accurate. Dragon fruit is actually a type of cactus. The plant that produces it is a type of cactus of the genus Hylocereus, which includes about twenty different species. There are many varieties of dragon fruit, including red, white, yellow, orange, and purple. The most popular variety in America is white with light green stripes.
What Is the Real Name of Dragon Fruit?
There’s something about the rainbow shades of this exotic fruit and its large, round shape that bring to mind a fire-breathing dragon. That’s why it’s sometimes called dragon fruit! But, in the West, where it originated, it is also known by other names such as pitaya (which is Spanish for “dragon”) and strawberry pear (as the color and texture of the flesh are similar to that of a strawberry). Here in India, it’s referred to as “Kamalam”.
“Kamalam”, which literally translates as “lotus blossom,” was officially adopted as the name for this fruit.
What Is the Second Name of Dragon Fruit?
The fruit that we refer to as dragon fruit is known in its native regions as pitahaya, pitaya, and pitajaya. But there’s more to the fruit’s name than just the use of different syllables. In fact, the fruit has two names depending on whether it’s grown in the Americas or in Southeast Asia. The cactus genus Stenocereus is indigenous to Mexico and South America, while Selenicereus is native to Southeast Asia.
Is Dragon Fruit a Cactus?
The first time I ate dragon fruit, I was totally convinced that it was a cactus. It’s not the kind of thing you see every day, and when it showed up on the menu at my favorite Thai restaurant. Dragon fruit flower, also called Pitaya [pit-EYE-ah], is an exotic fruit cactus with colorful leaves, flowers, and fruits. It reminded me of the Saguaro cacti in the Sonoran desert (my home state) because of its shape. Also, there was an extra layer of skin that looked like the protective coating on a Saguaro.
It turns out that it is not a cactus, but rather an edible fruit that is native to South America and can be found in tropical climates around the world. Dragon fruits are in the same plant family as the Pitaya, or strawberry pear (the fruit from which dragon fruit gets its name). These sweet and juicy fruits can range from bright red to pink to deep purple, with greenish-white flesh and crunchy black seeds.
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