DRAGON FRUITS

This fruit is considered to bring blessing in Vietnam and China. Therefore it always put in an altar among two green statues of dragon. Apparent of fruit colour is glaring. Supposedly, because that habit the fruit then well-known as THANG LOY in English called DRAGON FRUIT. It has many specialties such as expediting blood circulation and lessening fever. 

 Dragon fruit is included sort of cactus from Hylocereus clan (just night blossom) and Selenicereus. It comes from Mexico, Central America and South. It is now cultivated in Taiwan, Vietnam, Filipina, and Indonesia. There is also in Okinawa (Japan), North Australia, South Tiongkok.

Dragon Fruit consist of root, stalk, thorn, and fruit. Filament root grows in the ground, meanwhile in upper stalk as a dangle root. Root grows along the stalk in flipper back. The stalk is triangle shape; thorn is shortly and not glaring so that often named “no thorny cereus”. There will be growing flower that has shape like Wijayakusuma in thorn. 

Flower blooming in early dusk, when flower bud has sized 30cm. Outer crown is cream, blooming about 9 pm. Came after inner crown is white cleanly, contained a number of yellow thread pollen. Spout flower opened fully in midnight. That is why also well-known as “night blooming cereus”. When it is fully blooming, it spread out fragrant smell. This fragrant is to entice bats and other nocturnal small creatures in order to pollinate flower. If blooming flower does not sheds, it will be growing be a fruit.

Nowadays, man people are consuming dragon fruits. Usually in fresh fruit as a remover thirsty. Dragon fruit contains highly degree water, about 90 percent of hefty fruit. Its taste sweet because contains Sugar degree 13-18 briks. It able served in juice, extract fruit, sweets, jam or several of other food servings. Today many restaurants display this eccentric fruit in display window benefit to fascinate attention.   

ADVANTAGE

Some experts admitted that dragon fruit rich of potassium, ferum, protein, fibre, sodium, calcium that benefit for health. According to AL Leong from Johncola Pitaya Food R&D, organization who is researching dragon fruit, Fruit of “honest cereus” rich of vitamin and mineral which exceedingly aid to increase power of resistance, and benefit for body metabolism.

The outcome of research, red dragon fruit, is splendid for blood circulation system. Also giving effect of decreasing emotional pressure and neutralize toxic in blood. Researchers are also telling that this fruit can prevent bowel cancer, besides prevent content of highly cholesterol in blood include decreasing degree of fat in our body.

Dragon fruit contains protein that able increasing body metabolism and keep heart healthy. Its fibre prevents bowel cancer, diabetes, and diet. Whereas its carotene benefit to eyes healthy, strengthen brain and prevent disease come in. Calcium benefit to strengthen bone, beside that its iron substance for blood supplement, B1 vitamin to prevent fever, B2 vitamin to decrease desire for food. B3 vitamin to decrease cholesterol degree, And C vitamin to increase smoothness, refinement skin, include prevent acne. Content of dragon fruit such as; sugar degree 13-18 briks, water 90%, carbohydrate 11.5g, acidic 0.139, protein 0.53g, fibre 0.71g, calcium 134.5mg, phosphorous 8.7 mg, magnesium 60.4 mg, and C vitamin 9.4 mg.

 VARIETIES

Name of dragon fruit refers to a fruit that can be eaten, from plants sort:

     1.      Hylocereus undatus, it red, and white fruit flesh colour

     2.      Hylocerues polyrhizus, it pink and red fruit flesh colour

     3.      Selenicereus megalanthus, fruit skin is yellow and fruit flesh is white colour, and

     4.      Hylocereus costaricensis, fruit is a light red colour

Dragon fruit is not many yet cultivated in Indonesia but a number of areas have been cultivating such as Mojokerto, Jember, Malang, Pasuruan, Banyuwangi, Ponorogo, Batam and Belo (Kupang).