Pitahaya
Hylocereus triangularis
Also
referred to as Yellow Dragon Fruit, this is one of the first known
species of Hylocereus.
Native
to Jamaica and Cuba. It grows in thickets, on rocks, or in old
large trees. Pitahayas are tropical plants and are grown from
0 and 1800 meters of altitude.
The
Pitahaya has an ovoid shape, and a thick yellow skin with excrescences
and bulges that end with spine. inside there's a great mass of
dense translucent white flesh that contains a multitude of small
edible black seeds that can be scooped out in neat easy spoonfuls
giving off a pleasant fruity smell.
The
flavor is a little like a melon, with a multitude of crunchy seeds,
which don't get in the way or alter the taste but do have a tendency
to explode nicely when chewed.
Pitahayas
are also referred to as fruit of the shipwrecked man of the desert
because of its refreshing properties. It is preferable to consume
after keeping it in the fridge as that permits the flavors to
heighten resulting in an even more refreshing character. To eat
Pitahayas cut them in half and eat the flesh with a spoon. They
can also be made into juice and enjoyed as a cool drink. A syrup
made of the whole fruit is used to color pastries and candy.
