All About Dragon Fruit: Nutritional Profile, Health Benefits, and Fun Facts Dragon fruit , also known as pitaya or pitahaya , is the fruit of several cactus species belonging to the genus Selenicereus (formerly Hylocereus ). Famous for its striking appearance—featuring vibrant reddish-pink or yellow skin covered in leaf-like green scales—it offers a mild, subtle sweetness with a texture often described as a cross between a kiwi and a pear. Varieties of Dragon Fruit Dragon fruit comes in three main commercially cultivated varieties: White Dragon Fruit ( Pitaya Blanca ): Pink skin with white pulp and tiny black seeds. This is the most common variety. Red Dragon Fruit ( Pitaya Roja ): Bright magenta/pink skin with rich red or deep purple flesh. It generally tastes sweeter than the white variety. Yellow Dragon Fruit ( Pitaya Amarilla ): Bright yellow skin with white pulp. It is widely considered the sweetest and most flavorful of all varieties. Nutritional Profile Dragon fruit ...