Dragon Fruit: Heartbreaker
Well we finally did it, we tried fresh dragon fruit. Honestly I am still not sure what it is exactly. There was a very interesting conversation about dragon fruit going on at the Leftover Queen Forum. I love dragons quite a lot and anything associated with dragons I want to like. It is that one love from childhood fantasies that I still carry with me. Anything to do with dragons excites me. It is my Chinese astrology sign, maybe that has something to do with it.
So one day last winter Roberto and I were at Trader Joe’s in Massachusetts. This was mere weeks before making our big move to Florida, so we were getting our TJ’s fix in and decided to try things we never had before. Within minutes our sights grabbed on to a bag of purple dried dragon fruit. We were so excited to try it that as soon as we reached our car, we ripped the bag open. We each popped a piece in our mouth and immediately began making terrible faces. I was so disappointed because it was the most disgusting thing we had ever tasted. I wanted to like it so badly, but there was just nothing tasty about it. It was full of seeds and bitter and the worst part was it made our mouths look like we had been in a bar fight and likely missing teeth. It stained our mouths a deep purple and we picked seeds from our teeth for hours. I wish I had a picture of this moment to share with you all…We vowed never to eat it again….but as I always say, never say never!
One day I posted a topic on the forum about foods you wanted to like, but when you actually tried it, it was awful. I mean how many of you foodies out there have had this experience? A coveted food item that you have wanted to try for so long finally enters your mouth and it is just anti-climatic. Isn’t it kind of like a broken heart? Well now you understand this dragon fruit fiasco. So I got a lot of responses to my experience with the dried dragon fruit and according to many foodies whose opinions I respect fresh dragon fruit is amazing. So after a lot of back and forth I decided to give fresh dragon fruit a chance. Well I wasn’t sure I would get the opportunity to try it so soon. But as I have mentioned before on this blog the tropical fruit aisle that we have in Florida is a pretty amazing thing. There is always something new to try and one day, lo and behold, they had dragon fruits. So naturally, we bought one.
We brought it home and immediately cut right into it, the suspense too much to handle. When you cut into a dragon fruit, the bright pink and green scaly skin on the outside gives way to soft tender flesh on the inside, flesh that so does not match the outer skin, it almost seems like there is something wrong about it.
The inside is white with black flecks and the texture reminds you of a crunchy kiwi when you bite into it. I hate to say it but I was not overly amazed. The flavor was very mild and did actually put us in mind of a kiwi, which I am not generally a fan of, so maybe I should blame it on that. Or However, I can imagine it tasting wonderful on a very hot day if the fruit was nice and cold. Or maybe I didn’t taste a good specimen. But here I am making excuses for it, wanting to like it.
I feel like I gave dragon fruit a fair try. I can honestly say in its fresh form, it is not the worst thing I have ever tasted, but for me it didn’t live up to all of its “dragon-ness†nor my inflated expectations! Which has left me, needless to say, a little broken hearted.
Elly - August 17, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Boo on not being overly amazed. I have never tried it myself but it was always one of those things I wanted to buy if I ever found it. Funny story, when we were just in Seattle (and I must have been tired) I got really excited because I thought I saw a huge sign that said DRAGON FRUIT. Nope. It said ORGANIC FRUIT. LOL. FWIW, my husband must be a foodie (and also a tired one) because there was a “Bergman Luggage” and he thought it said “German Sausage.”
Katiez - August 17, 2007 at 3:51 pm
How disappointing! It’s such a gorgeous fruit I was really hoping for a gorgeous taste!
Deborah - August 17, 2007 at 4:14 pm
It is gorgeous – too bad it didn’t wow you. I have never had it, but there are so many fruits out there that I have never had the opportunity to try.
Anh - August 17, 2007 at 11:26 pm
Sorry to hear that you don’t like it… Hm, that’s strange since a lot of my friends actually love it.
You are right about the taste – it’s mild with a gentle sweetness. What we normally do is using it in a fruit salad or smoothie. Or enjoy it after a meaty meal… But again, a lot of fruits are not foe everyone. But at least you try to see how it tastes!
lia - August 18, 2007 at 1:29 am
iam never had it, so i can not tell how was the taste 🙁
Wendy - August 18, 2007 at 3:47 am
Beautiful pictures. Pink and green is my favourite colour combination. 🙂 Also adore kiwi fruit (especially the skins) so, even though you weren’t wild about dragon fruit, I’m going to get one very soon!
sognatrice - August 18, 2007 at 6:27 am
I felt the same way when I first had a prickly pear–underwhelmed. We can’t all love everything, though, can we?
Love the photos–the first one is quite sexy (you know, for a fruit) 😉
Belinda - August 18, 2007 at 11:02 am
It sounds like the dragon fruit’s beauty is only skin deep, and the taste can’t quite match the pretty package it comes in, but it sure is a gorgeous fruit.
The Leftover Queen - August 18, 2007 at 11:37 am
Well the moral of the story here is don’t take anyone’s word for it! If you have not tried dragon fruit and get the chance to, make sure to try it – you might like it! 😉
Everyone’s taste buds are different!
Hi Elly! That is too funny! I do that all the time – think I see something food related and it has nothing to do with it….Well I would say if you get a chance to try dragon fruit, don’t hesitate!
Katie! Yes, exactly, I thought that a fruit that beautiful and interesting would taste so good! But it does make a nice centerpiece!
Hey Deborah! Me too! I am always trying new fruits and squashes – so many interesting produce products now available to us! How amazing!
Hi Anh! Like I said we all have different taste buds and I am sure that on a hot day or after a particularly rich meal it would be a welcomed treat!
Lia – well if you get the chance you should try it!
Wendy! Good! Let me know what you think of it, I will be quite curious to hear your reaction! I think you most likely will love it! It is a beautiful fruit!
Hi Sognatrice! See, that is funny, I love prickly pear! But it is true, we can’t always like everything. But the dragon fruit sure is beautiful (and sexy!) to look at!
Belinda! Hi and thanks for stopping by! I love the way you put it that its beauty is only “Skin deep”! It is quite beautiful and a great way to stump your foodie friends in a game of name that fruit!
Andy - August 18, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Wow your pictures of it are sure are pretty though. I have never had a dragon fruit but it LOOKS like it would be good. :0
Valli - August 18, 2007 at 3:34 pm
My daughter should in theory love dragon fruit beacause she loves all things pink. “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover”. I still have yet to try figs even. I saw figs the other day in a grocers but you had to buy them in a case of 24. What if I didn’t like them??????? Heaven forbid. I found a recipe from Trisha Magwood where she caramelizes them in the oven and then broils them topped gorgonzola. This sounds good to me…I hope it doesn’t dissapoint!!!
Cynthia - August 18, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Hey Jenn (and Roberto)! I love the new look of the header.
I concur Jenn, you’ve given the dragon fruit a fair try.
marye - August 18, 2007 at 10:28 pm
O.k…Dragonfruit aside..
I love the new banner…the picture is so..you. 🙂
Figs Olives Wine - August 19, 2007 at 10:14 am
Jenn, what a bummer! They’re so beautiful. Maybe a big decorative bowl of them on the table? Your new banner’s fantastic.
The Leftover Queen - August 19, 2007 at 10:49 am
Hi Andy! I agree totally. It should be good by the way it looks!
Hey Valli! If you don’t like the figs, send them my way! I just made some yesterday, stuffed with parm and broiled and drizzled with balsamic reduction and a little Greek liquid gold! They were fantastic!
Hi Cynthia! Thanks! Didn’t Roberto do a great job! ?
Hi Marye! Thanks so much! I love it too!
Hi Amanda! Yes, I think they would make a beautiful centerpiece – but a bowl of them might be a little expensive…the one fruit was $5. Thanks about the banner! I love it!
Windy - August 22, 2007 at 9:39 am
Not my favour but would eat it. Afterall, it’s fruit.
The Leftover Queen - August 23, 2007 at 9:23 am
So I am not alone, huh, Windy?! 🙂
Sue Gordon - August 26, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Who cares if it was good or not? Those pictures are spectacular!!! I would blow them up and put them on my walls.
Sometimes when something is that beautiful, you have to forgive it not being completely wonderful in every way and just appreciate it for what it is…(not to sound too philosophical).
Sue Gordon - September 2, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Hi Jenn,
I just found this blog that I think you will be very interested in. Look at the post about the dragonfruit and the picture of the stunning RED insides.
http://fruitspecies.blogspot.com/
The Leftover Queen - September 3, 2007 at 10:56 am
I agree sue! I think it is just nice to look at! Thanks for the photo link!
Je-T - March 6, 2008 at 4:44 am
Hey everyone, I just hope that it’s not too late to make a renewal on the first impression given by your experience with dragon fruits, Leftover Queen & several other people. I definitely think that a dragon fruit has it’s uniqueness as many other fruits. The thing about these brightly exotic fruits is that they’re not meant to be eaten until the ‘right’ time comes when they’re absolutely disgusting and displeasing to glance at. My blunt point is: dragon fruits are not ripe until they look exactly like they’re rotten and unappreciable by it’s outward appearances. In opposed to reality, when the surface of these lovely sweets appear like they need to be disposed is when it’s the perfect time to slice apart the dragon fruit in to nice bite-size pieces to eat. Nonetheless, I hope that this helps out even an iota in your future enjoyment with dragon fruits. .. take care. 🙂
The Leftover Queen - March 6, 2008 at 11:39 am
How interesting Je-T. Thanks for the great information!
Helen - March 25, 2008 at 9:40 am
Ha ha! I just looked this up after your reply on the forum. I feel exactly the same way as you know. At least I only tried the tasteless fresh dragon fruit though – the dried one sounds awful!!!
The Leftover Queen - March 25, 2008 at 10:11 am
Yeah, Helen, the dried version was simply disgusting..at least the fresh was just bland….
MemyselfandInsane - February 13, 2009 at 10:42 pm
The dried dragon fruit at Trader Joes is horrible. It tastes dusty and old. The fruit you tried may not have been fully ripe, though I’ve never been able to try a fresh one. Dragon fruit flavored Vitamin Water is absolutely delicious though!
Coyotero - March 10, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Found you while looking up information on google.
I was introduced to dragonfruit years ago by a friend’s Chinese roommate. I’ve been fascinated by them ever since.
I’ve had many of these fruits, both home-grown and commercially-purchased. To be honest, nothing I’ve ever bought at the store has been close to good. About half of them were inedible.
The problem is that dragonfruit doesn’t ripen off the vine (like many fruits do, bananas for example) And, like bananas, they’re flavor reaches it’s peak when they are slightly over-ripe. Naturally this leads to many commercial growers picking their fruit early to guarantee a longer shelf life and better appearance… Really they’re best when the leaves on the hull of the fruit are a little wilted. Judging from the pictures you posted the fruit looks a little ‘young’.
Just saying, don’t discredit the dragonfruit until you’ve had a truly stellar example of one. The variety that is red inside is (in my opinion) the best-tasting, kind of like eating a gigantic raspberry, with notes of cantaloupe flavor.