Pitaya can be divided into three categories: white pitaya with purple skin and white flesh, with tiny black seeds distributed inside, and fresh food is of average quality; Red pitaya skin is red and meat is red, and the quality of fresh food is better; Yellow-skinned pitaya has yellow skin and white meat, and fresh food has the best quality. Pitaya is rich in minerals, anthocyanins and water-soluble dietary fiber. Among them, anthocyanin has antioxidant effect, and the plant protein contained in pitaya also has the function of detoxification of heavy metals. The energy content of pitaya pulp per100g is 60 kcal, which is slightly higher than that of apple, and the vitamin C content is three times that of apple.
Red pitaya, a tropical fruit in Hainan
Pitaya, also known as Red Dragon Fruit, Pitaya Fruit, Fairy Honey Fruit and Jade Dragon Fruit, is a cactus fruit belonging to the genus Tripterygium of Cactus. It looks like a big mango and is sweet and delicious. It has become a fruit that quenches thirst in hot weather. According to the color of pulp, it can be divided into three kinds: red heart, yellow heart and white heart, among which red heart pitaya is still more expensive.
Pitaya is eaten in the same way as watermelon. The pulp contains thousands to more than 10000 sesame seeds. The whole pulp is mixed with honey, fresh milk and ice cubes to make juice. After the seeds are broken, the fragrance is overflowing and it is extremely delicious. In addition to making fruit juice for drinking, the ice cream made has excellent flavor, and the brewed fruit wine is fragrant and charming. Each flower of pitaya weighs more than half a catty, and a few of them can reach 1 catty, which can be used for frying, cooking or making lettuce salad. After drying, it can be stored for a long time, crispy and delicious; Its flower dew is comparable to chrysanthemum tea: take its flowers and soak them in boiling water, add rock sugar, drink them cold, which is more fragrant and mellow than chrysanthemum tea, and can also be made into canned drinks.
Pitaya contains not only carbohydrates and protein, but also high concentrations of vitamins A, B 1, B2, B3, C, calcium, phosphorus, iron and other minerals, which is the best natural vitamin source. According to folklore, the flowers and fruits of pitaya have the effects of improving eyesight, reducing fire (lowering blood pressure) and beautifying.
Pitaya is native to the tropical desert area of Central America, which is heat-resistant, drought-resistant but not cold-resistant. The southern part of China can be planted in the open air, and the northern part needs heat preservation facilities to maintain above 5℃ in winter. After planting for one year, flowers and fruits will bloom when the branch length exceeds1m. Every year from May to 165438+ 10, an orchard was observed, and the highest record was 15 flowers a year.
Pitaya blooms completely after 10 at night, and will wither when the sun comes out the next morning. It is a veritable "night fairy", and its English name is Night-Blooming Cereus, which fully illustrates its characteristics.
The flower of pitaya is very big, with a total length of 45cm, a corolla of 25cm and a weight of 350-500g, so it is also called Lady Enforcers. Every flower has pistils and pistils, which are pollinated by wind and insects. On the 6th day after pollination, the ovary swelled obviously, and the fruit matured on the 30th to 40th day after flowering.