Dragonfruit

Native to central Vietnam, this wild-looking cactus fruit is getting a lot of attention due to its shocking appearance. The outside is a hot pink oval bud, with narrow flat puddles extending in a symmetrical pattern around the fruit. The interior is a crisp pulp of flat white, with thousands of tiny, jet-black seeds, not unlike a kiwi. There are two varieties, each with the same bland flavor. The texture is slightly grainy and is easily bruised under slight pressure. Malay: buah kaktus madu; Vietnamese: thanh-long