If you’ve ever passed your local grocery store’s exotic fruits section, you’ve likely seen a pink cactus fruit called dragon fruit.
However, there are multiple different colors of dragon fruit, and they have other benefits and flavors.
Also known as the yellow pitaya, the yellow dragon fruit is the less known sibling of the red dragon fruit.
The red variety is the most common and can be seen in just about any grocery store around the United States. You’ve probably marveled at its vivid magenta peel and sort of strange-looking flaps on the outside.
However, what makes the yellow dragon fruit different from the red dragon fruit is the nutritional value, the physical appearance, and the overall flavor and texture.
These all make the yellow dragon fruit an excellent option for desserts, snacking, and keeping on hand.
However, they can be hard to find, and most people will need to spend more money to try what is often called the ‘best tasting’ in the dragon fruit family. It has a distinct and lovely sweet flavor that no other dragon fruit can replicate.
Let’s dive right in and meet this unique little morsel! We’ve even thrown a recipe for how to prepare a dragonfruit at the end of this article.
What Does Yellow Dragon Fruit Taste Like?
The yellow pitaya fruit has a softer, floral aftertaste than other types of dragon fruit and has been described as having a more mild taste.
It is also much sweeter than different types of dragon fruit and lacks the tartness you’d find in red or pink dragon fruits.
It is also known for having larger but fewer seeds in the fruit pulp. Fewer seeds make life easier for some aspects, but this can be a double-edged sword when paired with a larger size. You could run into trouble when cutting or eating it, but luckily, the seeds are edible too.
How To Cut Dragon Fruit Yellow?
Cutting a dragon fruit is a relatively simple process that anyone can do. You only need a sharp knife, a spoon, a clean cutting board, and some time.
If you’d like, you can also find cut gloves to make sure you’re extra safe when cutting the dragon fruit.
- Wash the dragon fruit to make sure there are no clumps of dirt, bits of debris, or other unpleasant things on your dragon fruit.
- Not only are there sometimes minor bugs and bits of dirt, but you can also find dead or damaged flakes and remove them. Once this is done, you can start preparing the fruit.
- Slice the fruit longways once and then again across the smaller side of the dragon fruit. Keep your fingers close and have a good hold on the fruit.
- Since dragon fruits have an oblong shape, they can quickly get away from you if you don’t firmly hold them.
- Once you’ve cut them, take your spoon and run it between the dragon fruit’s flesh and the peel.
The fruit should separate from the peel with little to no effort. If there is more resistance, the fruit may not be ripe, or there may be other issues with the dragon fruit.
Remove the sections and cut them into cubes or other workable shapes. There is no wrong answer here for how you want to prepare your dragon fruit. Alternatively, you could cut the dragon fruit like you’d cut a mango.
To cut your dragon fruit like mango, you could cut it into four sections and then score the fruit with your knife. Be very careful not to puncture the skin or yourself while you score it accidentally.
Once scored, you can run the knife along with the peel and slice the sections off. This will give you a nice and simple way to finish cutting down the dragon fruit.
Nutrition and Benefits
Yellow dragon fruit is packed with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients like its red cousins. They are a great way to supplement your diet and get all kinds of essential nutrients.
Not only are yellow dragon fruits full of Vitamins A and C, but they are also packed with magnesium and antioxidants.
These will help you detox and are necessary for a healthy and happy life. They are linked to healthier skin, heart health, and good digestive health.
However, something to note is that yellow dragon fruits are packed with many natural sugars that give them their trademark sweetness.
Yellow dragon fruit can be difficult to enjoy if you need to watch your sugar intake and if you need to try and keep those low. However, if that is not a problem for you, you can enjoy them to your heart’s content.
The best dragon fruit benefits are in their digestive properties. They can act as a natural laxative when consumed in large doses and have a similar effect to coffee in this way. Overeating can cause an unpleasant bowel situation.
How To Eat Dragon Fruit Yellow?
Dragon fruit can be snacked on by itself, or it can be used as an ingredient in desserts, salads, and sides. All of these are nicely complimented by dragon fruit’s naturally sweet flavor.
Since the yellow dragon fruit is so sweet, it is best for desserts and other sweet treats. Ice cream and pastries might use dragon fruit topping as the main ingredient.
You can sprinkle little cubes over different deserts or use them in sauces or garnishes.
For example, there are recipes for dragon fruit cheesecake, dragon fruit panna cotta, and even dragon fruit sorbets!
The possibilities are endless! You can cook or eat the dragon fruit raw with all of these recipes, and there are so many great recipes to try that have dragon fruit.
Raw and plain yellow dragon fruit is another excellent choice too. This sweet natural snack cannot be beaten and spice up anyone’s meals. You can eat it by itself and enjoy the rich sweetness of the yellow dragon fruit.
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What is the Difference Between Yellow and Red Dragon Fruit?
Yellow and red dragon fruit have distinct physical differences and differences in flavor.
Yellow dragon fruits are sweeter than red ones and have a smoother texture. Conversely, the red dragon fruit has a more tart flavor and has a rougher texture. There are also seed differences.
The most significant difference between the two is that the yellow dragon fruit has a much sweeter flavor than the red dragon fruit.
There are some theories about why this is the case, but the consensus seems to be that yellow dragon fruits tend to be sweeter.
The texture of dragon fruit in your mouth will vary from one fruit to the next. However, yellow dragon fruits tend to have a smoother, creamier texture than other varieties.
Sometimes, red and pink dragon fruit can have a rough surface to break down before eating them.
Finally, the yellow dragon fruit has larger seeds but fewer of them. This makes them easier to remove from the fruit when straining. On the other hand, red dragon fruits have more seeds but are more petite.
Where Does the Yellow Dragon Fruit Come From, and Where Does it Grow?
The yellow dragon fruit is from South America and ranges from Columbia, Ecuador, and other regions in northern South America. It is the fruit of a type of cactus, and you can find it growing on rocky hillsides in this region.
The yellow dragon fruit plant is called the Pitaya Amarilla, and there are only one species of it in the world.
This is the only one that will produce the yellow dragon fruit you’ll see in grocery stores. It grows exclusively in South America and can be difficult to import, making it rare.
Not only does the difficulty of growing it make it expensive, but this also makes it last for a lot less time than other fruits you might bring home.
Knowing how to store your yellow dragon fruit is crucial to use this incredible ingredient and get the most time out of it.
Buying and Storing Yellow Dragon Fruit
While many grocery stores are starting to carry yellow dragon fruit, it can be tough to find.
Many people do not know about the differences between red and yellow dragon fruit, so grocery stores may replace them with the other when they are out of season.
Not only that, but yellow dragon fruit can be tough to keep in the grocery store. Since they are tropical fruits, they spoil relatively quickly, especially in the United States, which is not their native climate.
Store your dragon fruit in the refrigerator for no more than a day in an airtight container.
This exceptionally low shelf life is another reason that you should dive right into trying this treat. However, be prepared to eat all of it, not only some.
If you want to preserve your dragon fruit for longer, you can also put the fruit into the freezer in a freezer-safe container.
The yellow dragon fruit can last for upwards of three months in the freezer without losing its texture. After that point, however, you should properly dispose of the dragon fruit and look into buying a new one.
Is Yellow Dragon Fruit a Laxative?
Yellow dragon fruit can start behaving like a laxative, but it has many digestive health benefits. It’s best to only have a little bit of yellow dragon fruit at first so you can see how your body reacts.
Using a test amount is the most effective way to prevent biological responses and will give you the best results in the long run. That way, the smaller amount will help you pass the problem along quickly.
This can also fade over time, and as your body gets used to the ‘allergen.’ Once some time passes, you won’t see the same kind of laxative effect. However, this does mean that sensitive individuals may not see improved results.
What Makes a Pitaya Yellow?
Some dragon fruit comes from another type of cactus in the same family as the yellow pitaya family, and that difference can be enough to change the color of the fruit. This is a natural difference, and there are several ways to happen.
Sometimes, the fruit received more sun than other types of dragon fruit.
This makes them even sweeter and can change the color, making them look like yellow dragon fruit. However, what makes the iconic yellow dragon fruit, the specific species, that shade of yellow?
Scientifically speaking, there is a large amount of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and carotenoids when something is yellow.
As we went over before, these are some of the best nutritional benefits of the yellow dragon fruit, and they also help give this fruit its stunning color.
How to Eat Yellow Dragon Fruit
Ingredients
- Yellow dragon fruit
Instructions
- Select a ripe yellow dragon fruit and place it on a clean cutting board.
- Sharpen your knife and carefully cut the yellow dragon fruit long way.
- Take a spoon and carefully run it along the inside of the fruit, around the peel, and scoop the flesh out.
- Carefully cut the fruit into chunks and use it in recipes or serve raw.
- Optionally, you could save the yellow dragon fruit peel and use it for plating.
Yellow Dragon Fruit Tips
To get the most fruit out of the peel, use a motion similar to scraping an avocado. This will get you the most fruit and won’t waste anything. You can also continue scraping the peel and collect the other flesh that would have gone to waste.
- Store in the refrigerator and keep sealed. Sealing it up will give the fruit the best chance to stay fresh.
- If you’re using the dragon fruit as a dessert topping, make sure to chill, so it doesn’t lose its texture.
- To use the peel as a plating option, clean it out from excess fruit and set it aside.
