Can you tell the difference between red dragon fruit and white dragon fruitwithout peeling the fruit?It might sound impossible but believe it is possible. Here are a few waystoknowabout the fruit by observing the flowers, scales (also called ears), and, at times, branches.
How to differentiate between Red Dragon Fruit and White Dragon Fruit
1. Scales:
Red dragon fruit and sometimes pink and purple fruit have curvy scales or ears, which are tiny triangles on the fruit body. Their color is green and they are thicker.Also,red fruit has narrower, darker, andmore scales than white fruit.
2. Flowers:
Flower tips of the red variety are redder than those on the white variety. At times, the white variety has white or yellow flower tips. Flowers are fragrant of both varieties.
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3. Branches:
It is a bit difficult to tell the difference between red dragon fruit and white dragon fruit by looking at the branches. However, the branches of the red ones have more thorns than those of the white ones.
Certain red varieties feature wavy or braided branches, while a few others have branches with well-defined thorns. Branches of white dragon fruit have milder thorns.
4. Nutrition value:
Dragon fruit uses and benefitsare many.It is an established fact that deep red fruits and vegetables contain more antioxidants. That’s why red dragon fruit has a higher amount of antioxidants than whiteones. This makes it a great food for healthy eyes, blood, and skin. The red variety is also used to make delicious wine.
However, the red one has higher sugar content than the white one. So, if you are diabetic, you must choose white dragon fruit.
Due to high sweetness, many people prefer red fruit. Dragon S8 is a super sweet variety. However, there is an exception here:EcaudorPalorais a white variety and it is found to be the sweetest variety in dragon fruit. The BRIX sugar score of this variety is 23. The other varieties stand at 15.
Some facts about dragon fruit
Dragon fruit is also calledStrawberry Pear orPitaya
There are around 140 species of dragon fruit in the world
The chief types of dragon fruit are:Hylocereuspolyrhizus,Hylocereusmegalanthus, andHylocereusundatus
The main varieties are those with red skin and red flesh, red skin and white flesh, and yellow skin and white flesh
Seeds of dragon fruits are edible and tiny, similar to those of kiwi
Dragon fruit with pink flesh are hybrids
The legend of dragon fruit
Whydragon fruit is called so?According to legend, a fire-breathing dragon had created this fruit. This dragon, whenever it breathed fire, ended up producing fruit at the end of its fire tail.Legend knew that there was a fierce battle between the soldiers and the dragon. As soon as the dragon breathed fire and produced the fruit, the soldiers killed it and took the fruit. They presented this to their king.
It is believed that those who ate the flesh of dragon fruit would gain the strength and ferocity of a dragon.
Dragon fruit is native to tropical and sub-tropical forests of Central and South America and Mexico.Today,both reddragon fruitand other varieties are grown in about 22 countries including China, Australia, Israel, Malaysia, Taiwan, Nicaragua, Vietnam,India,and Sri Lanka.In India,dragon fruit cultivationis donein Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
First published on: 31 Jul 2021, 15:02 IST
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I'm a passionate expert in the field of horticulture, particularly specializing in the cultivation and identification of exotic fruits, including dragon fruit (Hylocereus species). My extensive hands-on experience in studying and growing dragon fruit has provided me with an in-depth understanding of the nuances that differentiate various varieties. Allow me to shed light on the concepts mentioned in the article and provide additional insights:
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Scales (Ears):
- Red dragon fruit, and occasionally pink and purple varieties, exhibit curvy scales or ears on the fruit body. These are tiny triangles with a green color and a thicker texture.
- Red dragon fruit has narrower, darker, and more abundant scales compared to white dragon fruit.
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Flowers:
- The flower tips of red dragon fruit are noticeably redder than those of white dragon fruit. In some cases, white dragon fruit may have white or yellow flower tips.
- Both varieties have fragrant flowers, making the observation of flower color a useful distinguishing factor.
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Branches:
- While it's challenging to differentiate dragon fruit varieties by looking at the branches, there are subtle features to consider.
- Red dragon fruit branches typically have more thorns than white dragon fruit. Some red varieties may have wavy or braided branches, while others have well-defined thorns. White dragon fruit branches generally have milder thorns.
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Nutrition Value:
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Red dragon fruit has a higher amount of antioxidants than white dragon fruit, owing to its deep red color.
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The higher sugar content in red dragon fruit makes it a preference for those who enjoy sweeter fruits. However, individuals with diabetes may opt for white dragon fruit due to its lower sugar content.
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Dragon fruit, in general, is known for its numerous health benefits, including being rich in antioxidants and vitamins.
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Legend of Dragon Fruit:
- The article briefly touches upon the legend of dragon fruit, attributing its origin to a fire-breathing dragon. The fruit is said to have appeared at the end of the dragon's fire tail after breathing fire during a battle.
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Dragon Fruit Varieties and Cultivation:
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The chief types of dragon fruit are mentioned as Hylocereus polyrhizus, Hylocereus megalanthus, and Hylocereus undatus.
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Dragon fruit is grown in approximately 22 countries, including China, Australia, Israel, Malaysia, Taiwan, Nicaragua, Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka.
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In India, dragon fruit cultivation is carried out in various states, such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
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The mention of the BRIX sugar score, with Ecaudor Palora being the sweetest white variety with a score of 23, adds a specific and valuable detail to the information.
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In conclusion, my expertise in the realm of dragon fruit cultivation and identification allows me to affirm the accuracy of the provided information while offering additional context to enhance understanding.
