🔥 In a nutshell#
A cactus fruit: light-sweet, low-cal, with crunchy mini sesame-like seeds.
📋 Basics#
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Also called | pitaya / pitahaya |
| Family | Cactaceae, Selenicereus |
| Nature | sweet, neutral |
| Calories | ≈ 60 kcal/100g |
👅 Taste & Texture#
Dense juicy flesh, mild sweet, crunchy black seeds; red sweeter than white.
💪 Nutrition & Benefits#
- Rich fiber aids regularity;
- Red flesh has betacyanin/anthocyanin, antioxidant;
- Low-cal, low-fat — diet friendly.
🌍 Where It Grows#
Hainan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, Fujian; Vietnam, Colombia too.
🍂 Harvest Season#
Summer–autumn (Jun–Nov), multiple crops.
🛒 Picking & Storing#
- Pick green fins, plump, wide fin gaps;
- Halve and scoop; chilled is crisper.
⚠️ Cautions#
- Seeds laxative — ease off during diarrhea;
- Red flesh tints urine/stool red — harmless.
✨ Fun Facts#
A cactus cousin: the «dragon scales» are reduced leaves, and its flower blooms at night, called «queen of the night».
Note: the above reflects general nutrition knowledge and is not medical advice.
