August 23rd
2005
It easily felt like a thousand miles between Haidhausen and Viktualienmarkt, fighting my way through pouring rain to “follow a call” from our favorite food stand. But first things first, the reason for getting out in the wet to begin with was a promise made by the owner of the said food stand last week.
When we, as part of our Saturday morning routine, came by his stall (Leo’s Obst-Standl), which is one of the nicest around (a magnet for a lot of food stylists, too), we noticed - it literally jumped at us - an ALL pink dragon fruit (with super intense dark pink flesh!) on his neatly arranged tables. We already had tried a white one earlier this year, which in all honesty didn’t wow me too much and certainly wasn’t worth the money, it was quite expensive.
The stall owner claimed that the pink dragon fruit, the one I couldn’t get my eyes off (its beautiful pink color was just too mesmerizing), would be much better in taste than its white buddy. He picked a big one from the few he still had left, weighed it and for a moment I thought I heard him say 13 Euros. Nothing wrong with my hearing - he did say 13 Euros and was both confused and amused by looking at O. and I, as we were giving him different signals: O. shaking his head from left to right (in a nooo-waaay, are you out of your mind? manner), I was nodding, though maybe a little shy. How often do you pay that much money for one, and only one single fruit? Grabbed my wallet and paid him; off we were, looking forward to a new experience with one of the most intriguingly colored fruits I’ve see in a while. The price tag, I was successfully blocking out.
Back at home the disappointment couldn’t have been bigger: he just sold us another white one. Needless to say I twirled on the spot and returned it to him, who very friendly apologized and took it back, offering to give us a call once he had another pink pitaya come in. That was then.
This week I finally received the awaited call from his daughter to come and pick up the reserved pink pitaya. Great timing, with the weather and everything. Radio just broadcasted severe weather warnings in most Bavarian areas and in some even raising red alerts and here I am in my rain boots dreading to step outside. I rushed back as quickly as my feet allowed me to and got started right away. This dragon fruit beauty had an even more intense pink than the one we had seen the week before - simply amazing. On top, the taste fully delivered on its visual promises. Much more intense and flavorful, I'd describe it as kiwi-melon-pear-ish. Despite the obscene price tag, I think it was definitely worth it and would clearly recommend it over the pitayas with the clear/white flesh. For curious souls, some more tidbits on pitayas can be found here.
Bottom line: sometimes size color does matter.
They are so pretty aren't they? I can't believe it cost 13 euros.... I will stop complaining about the cost of tropical fruit....
Wow, I am enamored and enlightened! You've given me something new to lust after.
worth buying just for the great photos. but13 euros is ridiculous, although not having seen any here at all the price may be right. reminds me again about how expensive germany is and we'll be there again soon.
Amazing looking dragon fruit! I can only find the "white meat" ones where I live but, then again, haven't really looked...hmmm, maybe it's time for some searching :-)
This is absolutely gorgeous, the color is amazing. Well done on the photography front. I've eaten this before and miss most of all right now, mangosteen, jackfruit and sweep sop.
I have tried the pink dragonfruit at a house party early this year where the host bought them from a particular fruit shop in Singapore and they were apparently from Taiwan. They were much better than the white dragonfruit. The ones i tasted from Taiwan were very sweet and juicy....but beware of stains from this fruit....it wont wash off!
Hi Nicky, what an impressive colour ! Well, when you take into consideration all the time you had to take for one single fruit and the thousand miles to drive - 13 € are the least....but it was worth the experience, and the photos ! Not to speak about the fun for us fellow-bloggers reading your entry ! By the way, have you already seen my newest post about YOUR chocolate heaven ?
All the best, angelika
That is a pretty colour! The first time I've seen a dragonfruit with pink flesh .
Beautiful picture and I loved reading the post too. Don't recall ever seeing dragon-fruit in our Chinatown, be it white or red. I'll take a closer look and, if I find one, I'll buyit, taste it and let you know how much it cost over here.
Amazing colour! We get it here in Malaysia too and it's supposed to be sweeter than the white type.
I think I'd pay 30 euros for a fruit that colour. Too gorgeous for words.
Hi Nicky,
13 Euros! YIKES! I thought I was paying too much when I had to pay about $3.00 for one fruit. You're right about these though. The pink ones are much tastier.
What an extraordinary color! Thanks for the great post.
hi nicky, i know exactly how you feel about white dragon fruit - great to look at but a real let-down to eat. have never tried a pink one; thanks to your luscious pictures and vivid descriptions, i must go hunt one down...cheers,j
Hi Nicky & Oliver,
your blog is definitely worthy of a special prize for the very best use of colour - deep blue potatoes, bright electric pink dragon fruit, gorgeously pink-hued pannacotta etc etc. You always manage to impress for sure!
Lovely pixs of the pink dragon fruit. They seem to have invaded our markets in Malaysia too and I think they're so much sweeter. Not sure how much is 13 euros but it's about USD2 in Malaysia.
Actually, if you let the white flesh dragon fruit ripen a bit, it is usually very sweet. I've had both and I do think the pink flesh is slightly more tasty, but I'd take either one. I always want to pick up a few because of the color....just attractive.
Here in Taiwan dragon fruit costs about a $1 or 2 USD for one. So reading 13 euros is a bit of a shock. However, it is a tropical fruit that has to be exported, so I shouldn't be too surprised.
Hi Fatemeh,
Yep been there as well, this time I just could not walk by it though. Fragrance-wise, I’d say no not in particular, very subtly.
Hi Gia,
I’ve never had sweet sop before, doesn’t it look a little bit like an artichoke & what does it taste like?
Hi Angelika,
Thanks so much for the mention on your blog :) I just love how the blogosphere helps to bridge distances, whether it’d be just a few hundred miles or several thousands!
Hey Reid,
3 bucks for a pink pitaya? Wow, we need to get into the professional, large scale shipping business… I’d love to try some pink pitaya sorbet or ice cream, but I would have to spend a fortune (in Germany) on pitayas ;(
Hi Skrat,
Yes, you’re right, I did have to wash my hands several times (after I prepared the fruit) until the last hints of pink were gone.
Hi Pille,
Thanks for your nice compliment :) I’ve been fascinated by intense colors since being a little kid (always chose the most colorful candies and ice creams…), so whenever I discover something new (to me), you’ll find it here…
Hi boo_licious,
13 EUR are equal to almost 16 USD, thinking about this again, makes me question my sanity for buying this fruit in the first place ;)
Hi Rose,
Thanks for the tip, but I think I need to recover from the last one’s price, so it might take some time until I’ll buy another one…
I bought one for 7 euros in Chinatown, in Paris. I got it how and boy, what an (expensive) disappointment. It was grey-white inside and utterly tasteless. I will look for a pink one at some point, but I doubt any of the shops in Chinatown will appreciate me poking into their fruits!
This might come as a bit of a shock, but they sell them for 4 Euros at Tegut (supermarket chain that prides itself on its organic food selection - I'm not sure if there is one in Munich).
Don't want to make you cry but check out the price difference in Hanoi, Vietnam - for white ones, mind you!
Your pics are awesome!
WOW, what a gorgeously coloured fruit! Wish I could get it in the UK...
HEY YOU DONT HAVE TO TRAVEL ABROAD TO GET THE PITAYAS IN CHICAGO MY HOMETOWN WE HAVE THOSE IN ABUNDANCE. WE HAVE THE SECOND LARGEST HISPANIC POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY. YOU CAN GO TO ANY MEXICAN MARKET AND I'LL BET YOU THAT THEY WILL CARRY THEM. OR YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO MEXICANPRODUCE.COM AND GET THEM ON CANS
Try squeezing some lemon or lime juice over the white flesh dragon fruits. Makes them taste much better...
actually, i prefer the white dragon fruits. i think they're nicer. at least, the ones i get from singapore is nicer. but the pink is gorgeous isn't it? haha. :D
Tips to look for good dragon fruits. Red / maroon flesh is the best. The difficult parts is that all dragon fruits are red coloured skin except the yellow one. The white flesh fruit has an oval shape. The red flesh fruit is rounded. Normally the smaller fruit is sweeter that the big one as the smaller fruit contain less water. If possible buy the fruit during dry season as it contains less water therefore it is sweeter.
For those who are in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia you can contact me at 019-3677240 for the seedlings.
yay! pithayas rulz they're delicius but here in mexico aren't that expensive u know? they are beautiful and I think U can found some in other colors o.o I think there are some yellow/orange ones but pink is fine I think is the most delicious color =)
i just paid 2 canadian dollars for a white one here in kelowna bc was like i read kinda sweet not much flavour but at least we tried it and can add it to the pallete. was worth the experience.
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the pitaya flower is just as beautiful, especially because it blooms only in the early morning. I am soon starting a small production of pink pitaya gelati/sorbet...for sure i will be posting results soon
I love Red Pithaya than the White Pithaya. It's been grown in tropical countries. In my hometown, it's a very popular fruit and it's not only eaten fresh but made into drinks, fruit enzymes, ice creams, vinegars, cakes, jellies, etc. Even the skin is used as vegetable! The cactus plant is huge with gorgeous flowers :-) It's strange to have this thorny plant with amazing fruits...that's wonders of Nature.
oh... the price nowadays in my local market is between € 0.67 - € 1.00 (depends on the peak season). Now, I'm hunting for the elusive locally produced Dragon Fruit Wine..yep. Another thing I discovered is that the shape of White Pitaya and Red Pitaya is slightly different. The highly valued Red Pitaya is rounder than the elongated White Pitaya. There, that's the secret :-)
That is just BEAUTIFUL. I'm glad it tasted good, too. I've too often been wooed by a gorgeous food item, only to discover that it tastes like tepid water.
Is it fragrant?