The dragon fruit, is known also as Pittaya and called Kaeo Mangkon (Thai: แก้วมังกร) in Thai.
It's origin is Mexico and it transplanted first to central America and later to the rest of the world. These days the Dragon fruit is cultivated in East and South Asia, South East Asia: Cambodia, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam,Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia and others.
The dragon fruit has different varieties. In Thailand the dragon fruit flower blossoms only during the night with huge white flowers which are called "Moon flower" or "Queen of the Night".
The Dragon Fruit has a smooth texture and a tender flavour. It is also grown as an ornamental plant, used in gardens and as a house plant indoors.
It contains a lot of Vitamin C, Vitamin B1 and B3, generous amount of a plant fiber, and it is rich with antioxidants as well.
The Dragon fruit is using as an ingredient in many products. It is used for making alcoholic drinks, juices and shakes and in various desserts, especially in Thailand. Dragon fruit is using for jams, sauces, desserts, milk products and with its flowers are brewing a tea. There are many fruit shake stands on Koh Phangan Food Market which are offering a delicious mixers with Dragon fruit. In many cases these fruits have been collected from their small gardens; fresh, organic and were grown with love...
So, if you are on Koh Phangan don’t miss a chance to try this exotic, strange looking, delicious and very healthy fruit!!
These pictures have been taken in one of the homegrown dragon fruit gardens.
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