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The pitaya, also known as dragonfruit or dragon pearl is the fruit of a pitaya cactus. Native to Central and South America, the vine-like cactus is also cultivated in Southeastern Asian countries such as Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The fruit comes in three types all with leathery, slightly leafy skin:
- Hylocereus undatus, white flesh with pink skin
- Hylocereus polyrhizus, red flesh with pink skin
- Selenicereus megalanthus, white flesh with yellow skin
Sesame-sized seeds are embedded throughout the flesh.
The flesh, which is eaten raw, is bland in flavor, mildly sweet and low in calories. The fruit may be converted into juice or wine; the flowers can be eaten or steeped as tea.. Although the tiny pitaya seeds are eaten with the flesh, the seeds are indigestible: after eating some pitaya, one should have no surprises in the next trip to the bathroom!
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