Pitakhaya is a fruit of a treelike cactus, the plant widespread in tropical climate. South America is considered the homeland of exotic fruit, but cultivate it in many countries, similar in climatic conditions: Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Israel and other. In this article we will talk about tastes and useful properties of an overseas fruit.
Appearance and taste of drakony fruit
Fruit the forms he reminds a fir cone, roundish with sheet scales outgrowths. The dense peel is not edible, but easily is removed, opening the juicy pulp covered with small sunflower seeds. Average weight — from 200 to 600 grams, in favorable conditions dragon heart can weigh to kilogram.
Study features of such exotic fruit as rambutan, a papaya, a feijoa, mango, a kiwi, a lime, grapefruit, a pomelo, pineapple, unab, durian, orange, tangerine, banana.
It is remarkable that in a year it is possible to reap several crops. Fruit are three types:
- red pitaya — with a bright pink peel and white or cream color pulp, on taste fresh and sweet, smells of herbs;
- the Costa Rican — with a red peel and pulp, has luscious taste;
- yellow pitaya — with a yellow cover and core, has pronounced sweet in taste and bright aroma.
Whether you know? Ancient legends tell about fight of people against dragons: when soldiers tired fire-spitting lizards out, instead of fire from a mouth unusual fruits fell. People liked taste, it is called the reason of destruction of dragons. And a fruit call since then drakony heart as scales on a peel remind a drakonye skin.
Vitamins, minerals, micro and macrocells
Fruits possess the following useful substances:
- vitamins: With, B1, B3;
- mineral elements: potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron;
- cellulose;
- ashes;
- tannin (in seeds).
Caloric content — up to 50 kcal / 100.
Useful properties
The advantage of a pitakhaya is caused by its structure, the vitamins and other useful substances which are present at pulp are excellent prophylactic at many illnesses. In the countries where it is cultivated, recommend to use fruit at such problems with health:
- pancreas diseases;
- diabetes;
- the increased acidity of a stomach and diseases connected with it;
- decrease in visual acuity;
- cardiovascular system;
- weak immunity.
Whether you know? Ancient Indians called a cactus pitaya the queen of night as it is possible to admire the blossomed flowers of a plant only after a decline.
Except fruit pulp, seeds rich with tannin have medicinal properties, phenolic connections are used in medicines for treatment of eye diseases, at poisoning with heavy metals, at throat diseases, at diarrhea long ago.
From stalks of a plant prepare the medicines improving blood circulation, strengthening walls of blood vessels and supporting a cardiac muscle. Juice from stalks is accepted as antivermicular means.
Fruit at weight loss is useful: it is low-calorie, has ability to connect fats and to remove cholesterol.
Harm and contraindications
Contraindication to the use is the allergy to fruit, it is necessary to try from small quantity. It is not desirable to be fond of fruits as overeating can lead to indigestions (nausea, a diarrhea, swelling, heartburn).
Important! To children up to three years, inclined to diathesis or having it in the anamnesis, it is not recommended to give fruit.
How to choose
When choosing it is necessary to pay attention to the following factors:
- ripe pitakhaya will be uniform and saturated color;
- on average the weight of a ripe fruit — 250 grams;
- the ripeness can be checked to the touch: immature fruit will be firm;
- deciduous outgrowths on a peel should not be dry;
- visual inspection should not reveal cracks or other damages.
It is important! If you noticed spots, the begun to rot places, wrinkles on a peel or cracks — goods not fresh, it is better to refuse its purchase.
As eat fruit
With Drakonye heart is eaten fresh, cutting on halves and choosing pulp as a spoon. You should not try to choose seeds, they are not toxic, on the contrary, are useful, but it is necessary to chew them. Pieces pitayyu cut in fruit salads, add to ice cream, cocktails, decorate desserts (mousses, jelly, pies, cakes).
Do jams and jam, sauces and gas stations, a water-ice, candies and yogurts of juicy pulp.
In the manufacturing countries the refreshing soft and alcoholic beverages from fruit are popular:
- juice, cocktails, tea (take flowers);
- wine, liqueur, hard liquors.
The crude cooled pulp saves during a heat from thirst.
In salads pitakhaya it is well combined with strawberry, shrimps, chicken, a celery, pistachios with soy sauce and lemon juice.
Storage
The ripe fruit quickly spoils, it is necessary to store it in the fridge about four days, it is no more.
Because of difficulties of transportation pitakhayyu it is not always possible to find in shops. If you want to buy a fruit for any event, then it is better to take firm nearly mature, it will ripen in the fridge and will longer stand.