How To Identify Dragon Fruit Varieties

Dragon fruit, known as pitaya, is a colorful tropical fruit loved for its distinctive look and tasty flavor. It has a bright skin, often pink or yellow, and flesh that can be white or red, sprinkled with tiny black seeds. You might have seen dragon fruit in smoothie bowls, fruit salads, and sweet dishes.

There are many kinds of dragon fruit, and each one has special features. This guide will help you learn how to recognize the different types of dragon fruit by their look, flavor, and feel.

Types of Dragon Fruit

We’ll introduce you to 16 types of dragon fruit:

1. Red Flesh Dragon Fruit

The Red Flesh dragon fruit variety stands out with its reddish-pink skin and dark red insides. It usually tastes sweeter and juicier than other kinds, with a refreshing flavor that’s a bit sweet.

Its flesh feels like kiwi — soft and filled with small black seeds.

2. White Flesh Dragon Fruit

Also known as Selenicereus undatus or “pitahaya blanca,” this dragon fruit is a favorite in Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean. It wears a pink or yellow coat with a white seeded center.

This fruit is soft and juicy, and it tastes sweet but a little tart, like a mix of kiwi, watermelon, and pear.

3. Yellow Dragon Fruit

Yellow dragon fruit, or Hylocereus megalanthus, is from South America and has a sunny yellow skin and white flesh sprinkled with seeds.

It feels crunchy and juicy with a sweet, tart taste that reminds you of citrus fruits and the tropics.

4. Physical Graffiti Dragon Fruit

Physical Graffiti, a type of Hylocereus undatus, grabs your attention with its pink and green skin that looks like art. Inside, its flesh is white with seeds and has a mild, sweet taste like watermelon.

What makes it special is its texture — it’s super soft and almost melts away, making it perfect for smoothies and desserts.

It’s also full of vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, plus it’s low in calories, so it’s good for staying healthy and keeping fit.

5. American Beauty Dragon Fruit

The American Beauty variety is pretty with its pink outer skin and white or pink insides full of little seeds. It tastes sweet with a bit of tang, like kiwi or pear.

It’s got a firm texture that’s like a kiwi’s.

6. Dark Star Dragon Fruit

The Dark Star has a dramatic dark red or purple skin and flesh that’s white or pink with seeds.

Its sweet and somewhat tart flavor combines tastes of kiwi and pear. The fruit is soft, moist, and perfect for blending or adding to fruit mixes.

7. Cosmic Charlie Dragon Fruit

Cosmic Charlie is a striking fruit with its vivid pink and green skin and juicy white center. Its texture is soft and a little grainy, like a kiwi.

It’s sweet and a bit tangy, with tropical hints of pineapple and melon. When it’s really ripe, the flesh turns more clear and the taste gets stronger.

8. Hylocereus polyrhizus (Vietnamese Dragon Fruit)

Vietnamese dragon fruit pops with its bright red skin and white seeded flesh. It’s lightly sweet and tart, similar to a kiwi or pear, with a juicy and crunchy texture. This fruit is packed with health-boosting stuff like antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber.

9. Hylocereus stenopterus (Honduras Pitaya)

Honduras pitaya wears a bright pink skin and has a white, seed-speckled heart. It tastes mildly sweet with a touch of sour, and it’s got a creamy texture that’s like a ripe avocado. This fruit is a great source of vitamin C, iron, and calcium.

10. Hylocereus triangularis (Red-Fleshed Dragon Fruit)

Red-fleshed dragon fruit, with its pink or red triangles and red or pink insides filled with seeds, is very eye-catching. It tastes sweet with a hint of floral, like a combo of watermelon and pear. This fruit is juicy and smooth, with a bit of a grainy feel.

11. Hylocereus triangularis (Red-Fleshed Dragon Fruit)

Also known as Hylocereus triangularis, this red-fleshed dragon fruit is easy to spot with its bright red peaks. Inside, you’ll find dark pink flesh with tiny black seeds.

It’s got a light sweet taste with a dash of sour, and it’s really refreshing – perfect for adding to salads and drinks. The fruit is soft and juicy, like kiwi, and comes with good stuff like Vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.

The seeds give a crunch and are good to eat. This fruit grows well in hot places, and it’s not just tasty – it also makes food look amazing.

12. Hylocereus guatemalensis (Guatemalan Pitaya)

Guatemalan pitaya, or Hylocereus guatemalensis, is known for its long scales that can be green to yellow. The white flesh inside with black seeds has a gentle, sweet taste often compared to a pear.

It’s soft and juicy like a kiwi, and it’s a tasty way to enjoy some sweetness.

The Guatemalan pitaya is similar to a watermelon in taste. It’s also full of Vitamin C, fiber, and substances that help protect your body. People love using this fruit in their smoothies, salads, and to make their meals look pretty because it’s so colorful.

13. Frankies Red Dragon Fruit

Frankies Red dragon fruit stands out with its bright pink exterior and deep red inside. It tastes mildly sweet like the white version of dragon fruit and is very refreshing.

Its soft and wet inside is filled with little black seeds that pop in your mouth. Many people love to add Frankies Red dragon fruit to their smoothie bowls and fruit salads, or use it as an eye-catching garnish.

14. Red Jaina Dragon Fruit

Red Jaina dragon fruit is another type that is easy to spot due to its vivid pink skin and dark red flesh. When you taste it, you’ll find it’s sweet and slightly sour, reminding you of watermelon and kiwi mixed together.

The inside is moist and tender, and the tiny black seeds give a little bit of crunch to each bite. Red Jaina dragon fruit is loaded with Vitamin C, fiber, and substances that help protect your body. It’s also popular in smoothies, salads, and as a garnish for its eye-catching color.

15. Red Jaina Dragon Fruit

This Red Jaina variety comes from a plant called Hylocereus polyrhizus. It’s known for its dark red skin and white insides speckled with black seeds. Its name comes from the Jaina ruins in Mexico, which is where people think the fruit comes from originally. This kind of dragon fruit isn’t too big, but it’s shaped like an oval and narrows at the end.

As for taste, the Red Jaina has a gentle, sweet flavor, kind of like a kiwi. The inside is both soft and moist, providing a refreshing crunch from the seeds. It’s got lots of antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber, so eating this dragon fruit is a tasty way to stay healthy.

16. Vietnam White Giants Dragon Fruit

Vietnam White Giants, as the name hints, are really big dragon fruits from Vietnam. This variety has white flesh that’s not only sweet but has a tiny bit of sourness too. Its skin is a greenish-yellow and has spiky, green bumps all over.

These dragon fruits can get really big, with some getting as heavy as 1kg (2.2lbs)! They have a thick, creamy inside that feels very luxurious. Besides tasting great, the Vietnam White Giants are also rich in good nutrients like antioxidants, vitamin C, and various B vitamins.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, dragon fruit is a tasty and healthy choice with plenty of different kinds to try. Whether you like things sweet or tangy, or you prefer a smooth or crunchy texture, you can find a dragon fruit that suits your preference.

Dragon fruit is not only delightful to eat, but also packed with health benefits thanks to its high antioxidant, vitamin C, and fiber content. With the knowledge you’ve gained here, you should be able to spot the various kinds of dragon fruit and pick the best one for yourself.